Paris’ iconic Seine has been in the news for poor water quality and contamination, which led to the postponement of the men’s triathlon race on Tuesday. The event could not be held that day after tests said the water was unsafe for athletes - primarily due to the presence of Escherichia Coli.

The event, however, took place the next day, along with the women’s triathlon when the water quality improved.

According to experts, water contamination is not new to the Seine – the backdrop of many popular romantic Hollywood movies. Rising pollution has led to a ban on swimming in the Parisian River for more than a century. However, it was given clearance by Olympic organizers after a nine-year and $1.5 billion investment to clean it up.

The concern is about E. coli and enterococci - germs that indicate fecal contamination, or the presence of raw sewage in the river. Doctors say swimming in water contaminated by these bacteria can be at risk for gastrointestinal illness, eye infection, and infected cuts or wounds. Also, heavy rain, like the downpour during the opening ceremony last Friday and over the weekend, has led to untreated wastewater overflowing into the Seine.

Experts say E. coli - a type of bacteria commonly found in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, even though it is harmless, some strains can make humans sick.

E.Coli infection causes watery diarrhea, stomach pain, and other digestive symptoms if you accidentally ingest them. These are sometimes called diarrheagenic E. Coli. Many strains of E. coli cause mild infections, but a few like those that produce Shiga toxin, can cause serious illness, including kidney damage. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are about 265,000 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infections each year in the US.

Experts say swimming in E. coli-infested water raises your risk of infection, which causes gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. However, water can also be home to a host of other contaminants like viruses and fungi. Other illnesses that can result from swimming in contaminated water include:

A bacterial infection caused by Salmonella that causes fever and severe diarrhea

A bacterial illness that leads to severe diarrhoea

An illness caused by the Shigella bacteria that causes fever, stomach pain, and diarrhoea

A disease spread by interacting with contaminated water that contains the pee of infected animals like rats

Doctors say the most common way to get water-borne illnesses is by accidentally swallowing contaminated water. Also, apart from gastrointestinal illnesses, skin rashes, and eye infections can also happen.

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