GEORGE NEWS - Local adventure companies who operate in the Kaaimans River say it is business as usual. In general, it appears as if their businesses were not affected by the possible presence of the bacteria Vibrio vulnificus in the warmer inter-tidal area of the Kaaimans River. They feel that too much is being made of the whole issue.
The bacteria, which occurs naturally in rivers, was recently identified by the local environmental authorities as being harmful under extreme warm conditions (20°C upwards). An initial water sample taken in the Kaaimans picnic area tested negative and did not show any harmful bacteria.
George super athlete Marthinus Esmeyer, of Paradise Adventures, says they are quite busy. "Most of my business - about 93% of my clients - are from overseas. They visit my website and then book directly by phoning me." Esmeyer is a professional extreme adventure sports athlete with a degree in forestry and a diploma in conservation and has been in business for the past five years.
As a former professional mountain bike rider he only has time to focus on his business, which operates throughout the year. His company offers abseiling, kloofing, coasteering, mountain biking and rock climbing. Only one of the activities ends near the inter-tidal/warm water zone that is currently being monitored for the presence of the bacteria.
Eden District Municipality Environmental Management officials vowed to monitor all estuaries on the Garden Route following the death of Wilderness resident Frans Heunis, who died after bumping his shin in the Kaaimans River. He was diagnosed with having died from an infection in the wound caused by the bacteria.
Georgian Roche Schoeman, director of Fearless Adventures, is famous for being the first person to swim the entire length of the Orange River (2 460km) in flood water in close on five months. He did this to raise awareness for the children of the Up with Down's school in George. He said this week he was upset about the impression being created that the Kaaimans River is a place to avoid. "My business was not affected too much by the news reports.
Most of the activities that my company offers, including abseiling, canyoning, river boarding, rock climbing and stand up paddle boarding, take place in the upper sections of Kaaimans River, where the temperatures are very cool," He said the northern section of the river is near pristine.
"The mountain section of the river is surrounded by thick bushes, and no pollution can take place there as there are no human settlements. The water temperature is relatively cold as the water comes directly from the Outeniqua Mountains. We use wet suits in our commercial operations. Only paddle boarding takes place at the mouth area," he added.
Roche will be attempting to break the Guinness World Record in June this year by swimming 60km in the Brede River in 24 hours on a river board.
Chris Leggatt, of Eden Adventures, who has been in operation for the past 16 years, was out on an expedition with clients when contacted for comment, but is said to be as busy as ever.
Visit www.georgeherald.com for a video clip of one of the extreme adventure sports at Kaaimans River.
What is Vibrio vulnificus?
Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that is a rare cause of illness in South Africa.
The illness is very different from cholera, which is caused by different bacteria, called Vibrio cholerae. Vibrio vulnificus infections do not spread directly from one person to another and are a serious health threat predominantly to persons with underlying illness, such as liver disease, or a compromised immune system.
The organism is a natural inhabitant of warm coastal waters. Infection can occur after a wound is exposed to warm coastal waters where the Vibrio vulnificus organism is growing. Infection may also be acquired by eating raw or undercooked seafood from those waters.
Symptoms of infection with Vibrio vulnificus include:
- Acute illness, with a rapid decline in health following exposure
- If exposed by contamination of an open wound, increasing swelling, redness, and pain at the site of the wound
- Illness typically begins within 1-3 days of exposure, but begins as late as seven days after exposure for a small percentage of cases
- Fever
- Swelling and redness of skin on arms or legs, with blood-tinged blisters
- Low blood pressure and shock
Persons with immunocompromising conditions and especially those with chronic liver disease should avoid exposure of open wounds or broken skin to warm salt or brackish water, and avoid consuming undercooked shellfish harvested from such waters.
Otherwise healthy persons are at much lower risk of Vibrio vulnificus infection.
Vibrio vulnificus infection is diagnosed by microbiologic culture of wound, by blood cultures, or by stool culture in the case of patients who consumed raw or undercooked seafood and the infection is treated with antibiotics. Vibrio vulnificus wound infections should be treated with aggressive attention to the wound site.
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ARTICLE: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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