Paris 2024 Olympics thrown into chaos after disgusting find in River Seine… barely 100 days before first event
THE Paris Olympics is facing a race against time to get the River Seine ready for the summer Games.
The River Seine is set to host marathon swimming, Triathlon and part of the Opening Ceremony.
GettyDangerous levels of E. coli and enterococci have been found in the River Seine[/caption]
ReutersHeavy rainfall has caused flooding leading to untreated water entering the river[/caption]
GettyPresident Emmanuel Macron has vowed to swim in the river ahead of the Games[/caption]
But with just over 100 days to go until the start of the Olympics dangerous levels of E. coli and enterococci have been found in the river.
Charity Surfrider Foundation conducted tests in the river in the locations where the events will take place and found the water to be potentially dangerous in all but one of the 14 samples taken.
Sufrider and analysis group Analyco-Co carried out the tests between September – March on water taken underneath Alexander III and Pont l’Alma bridges.
And in some samples the measurements of E. coli and enterococci were double or triple the maximum permitted amounts.
The issue has arisen in part due to France experiencing the heaviest period of rainfall for 30 years, causing sewers to flood.
France has spent over £1.2billion upgrading Paris’ sewage system, with a major new storm water facility set to open this month.
It is hoped this will prevent the current sewage system being overwhelmed by rainwater, thus putting a stop to the flow of untreated water entering the Seine.
Despite the dangers, officials are confident the events will go ahead in the Seine, with France President Emmanuel Macron vowing to swim in the river ahead of the Games.
What is E.Coli?
ESCHERICHIA coli – or E. coli – is a bacteria that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms.
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacteria that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms.
Most E.coli strains are harmless, but some can cause serious food poisoning.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is a bacterium that can cause severe foodborne disease.
In most cases, the illness is self-limiting, but it may lead to a life-threatening disease including haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), especially in young children and the elderly.
An E. coli infection is a sickness you get from the E.coli bacteria. It causes a lot of diarrhea-related illnesses like traveler’s diarrhea (known by many other names including Montezuma’s revenge) and dysentery.
It also causes illnesses outside your intestines like pneumonia and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
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Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris 2024 committee, said: “We will remain in this extraordinary location, no matter what happens.
“We want to preserve this ambition.”
