Nature park closure for two consecutive days due to unspecified reasons.
Mockritz Natural Bath Closed Due to Cercariae Presence
The Mockritz Natural Bath in Dresden, Germany, has temporarily closed its doors due to the presence of cercariae, the aquatic larval stage of certain parasitic flatworms. These tiny, virtually transparent larvae are released into water from an intermediate host, such as a snail, and are known to cause skin irritation in humans upon contact.
In the Mockritz Natural Bath, cercariae of tapeworms have been discovered, posing an infectious stage of the worm that emerges into the water environment. These larvae swim actively in the water to find and penetrate their next host, continuing the parasite’s complex life cycle.
Cercarial dermatitis, the skin irritation caused by cercariae, is harmless to humans and typically fades away after ten to fourteen days. However, it can cause blisters and itching upon entering human skin while swimming. Swallowing cercariae does not lead to any disease.
The closure of the Mockritz Natural Bath is due to the rainy and cool July weather, which has allowed waterfowl to stay undisturbed, contributing to the "cerariae cycle." Cercariae are spread through the droppings of infected birds back into the water, and they infest freshwater snails living on the bottom of ponds and produce new cerariae when water temperatures rise above 20 degrees Celsius.
A specialized company is addressing the cercariae issue at the Mockritz Natural Bath using a chemical agent approved by the Dresden Health and Environmental Office. This procedure is completely safe for humans, and the best-case scenario is for the bath to reopen on Friday afternoon.
It is important to note that an infection risk from cercariae in natural waters can never be completely ruled out. Infected waterbirds, including ducks, diving birds, and geese, can also be affected by cercariae, with the larvae growing into tapeworms within these birds. Swim dermatitis is not contagious from person to person.
The Mockritz Natural Bath encourages its visitors to stay informed about the bath’s status and to follow any safety guidelines provided. The bath looks forward to reopening as soon as possible and ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
- To combat the cercariae issue at the Mockritz Natural Bath, a company is employing a chemical agent approved by the Dresden Health and Environmental Office, ensuring a safe environment for human visitors.
- The presence of cercariae in the Mockritz Natural Bath's water extends beyond tapeworms, as these larvae can also infest freshwater snails and cause skin-care concerns related to health-and-wellness, such as skin irritation and itching.
