HAMILTON COUNTY, OH – Hamilton County Public Health (HCPH) has been notified of a release of under-treated sewage into the Great Miami River from the Middletown Waste Water Treatment Plant. The release began June 11 and was repaired June 16.
To prevent the spread of disease, HCPH advises people not to enter the water or fish in the Great Miami River downstream of Oxford State Road, where the plant is located. Swallowing a small amount of contaminated wastewater or having contaminated wastewater come in contact with an open wound may make you sick.
The risks associated with coming into contact with wastewater include parasitic, bacterial or viral infections that can cause conditions such as diarrhea, dysentery, gastroenteritis and hepatitis A.
The symptoms can range from mild to severe. If you have diarrhea, the most important thing you can do is to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. This is especially important for young children, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems (such as those living with HIV/AIDS, those who have received an organ transplant, or those receiving certain types of chemotherapy).
Seek medical care immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Bloody diarrhea or diarrhea that doesn’t improve after 3 days;
- Diarrhea accompanied by fever or chills;
- Signs of dehydration: dry or “cottony” mouth, cracked lips, dry flushed skin, headache, irritability, not urinating at least four times a day, no tears when crying, not sweating, or confusion.
