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What are the risks of sewage to your health?

Chris Macdonald - Sales Director - SafeGroup

By

Chris Macdonald

2 min read

Sewage or wastewater poses a high risk to humans and animals and it can even be life-threatening if ingested or if one comes into contact with it.

Bacterial infections usually come from Blackwater or Greywater and include E. Coli, Dysentery, Leptospirosis, Salmonellosis, Cholera, intestinal infections and many others. Sewage makes for perfect bacteria growing conditions and the longer the sewage remains unremoved, the greater the risk of spread of bacteria. Symptoms may include, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, chills, blurry vision, fever and even respiratory failure.

Viral infections include Hepatitis A, Polyomavirus Infection and SARS. Viruses can enter the body via ingestion or through a cut in the skin. Viruses are not cured by antibiotics which is why it is extremely important to remove sewage or wastewater immediately and to not attempt to remove it yourself. Symptoms may include fatigue, fever, myalgia and headaches or respiratory failure.

Protozoan Infections are caused by the protozoa Amoebiasis, Cryptosporidiosis, Giardiasis and Microsporidiosis. Protozoa are actually single celled organisms which are part of the animal kingdom. Symptoms of infection range from fatigue, cramps, diarrhoea and bloating.

There are other fungal and parasitic infections that are transmissible by contaminated water but these are largely rare in the UK. In any case it is extremely important to hire a professional cleaning company to remove sewage spillage as soon as possible.

If you suffer from any of the above symptoms after coming in contact with contaminated water you should contact you doctor immediately.

Chris Macdonald - Sales Director - SafeGroup
About the author

Chris Macdonald

Chris has strategic responsibility for sales development and major accounts management at SafeGroup. He was a professional footballer with Southampton FC until a series of injuries ended his career while still a teenager. Chris began working as a helpdesk controller for a national FM company in 2004. By 2013 he was its managing director. From there he joined SafeGroup in 2018, bringing with him huge expertise plus the energy, enthusiasm and drive that would have surely made him a success in the Premier League. He does, however, still enjoy playing football.

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