Barbara J. Hamby

Menacing Diseases

Yesterday there were four or five swimmers in the pool, when one of them noticed a three-page bulletin posted on the wall inside the pool area. She got out of the pool to read it. She reported the notice warned that a person who had been using the pool was recently diagnosed with MRSA, the flesh-eating disease. We had all been in the water before we learned of the danger. We talked a bit about whether we should get out and/or stay out.

For myself, I decided to risk it. I have no cuts or sores on my skin and don’t consider my immune system challenged at present. Water exercise is my only option because of my painful feet, so I guess I’ll take my chances. 

When I went to swim today, I noticed quite a lot of people had signed in to swim and/or exercise before I got there in mid-afternoon, so the threat didn’t seem to affect many people. I assume that, if the management were really worried, they’d close the pool.

There are so many dangers around these days, several new types of flu and other staph infections as well as MRSA, that we are never totally safe. The danger of accidents is always present also, especially in a community with so many elderly folks behind the wheel of autos, golf carts, bicycles, etc.

I suppose if another case turns up among the pool users, we’ll have to rethink our decisions.