Warning as canoeists contract Weil’s disease (From Daily Echo)

Warning as canoeists contract Weil’s disease

1:40pm Tuesday 10th January 2012 in News

WARNINGS have been issued about the waterborne Weil’s disease after two students contracted the potentially fatal bug while canoeing in the River Itchen at Southampton.

Both are members of Southampton University Canoe Club and are thought to have contracted the infection while kayaking on the river near Swaythling.

Now the Health Protection Agency has urged those using the river to take precautions such as avoiding swallowing the water, washing and showering thoroughly afterwards and making sure cuts are covered up.

Spokeswoman Claudette Malone said: “Anyone who is engaging in water sports should be mindful of the risk.”

Doug Clifton, a 19-year-old first year geography student, and Thom Guy, 20, a physics student who is also the canoe club president, were taken to hospital suffering flu-like symptoms.

They were found to have Weil’s disease, also known as Leptospirosis, which is caught through contact with water infected with animal urine.

Thom fell ill first but thought he had meningitis, which he has suffered before, because of his severe headache.

He collapsed at university and ended up in Southampton General Hospital for five days.

But when Thom heard fellow club member Doug was in hospital before Christmas with suspected meningitis he called him about his bout of Weil’s disease, allowing doctors to test for it.