'Horrible, horrible death' by infection

The last post where I made this known was deleted.

…honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Apr/08/…

Now, another person has suffered infection.

This time, the person (a local resident) claims he was infected by bacteria in the sand. He blames the State for being too quick in removing ocean hazard signs, and negligent ito notify the public about bacterial hazards in the sand.

State officials claim that EPA testing does NOT require bacterial samples be taken from sand (so you know they didn%26#39;t bother to take any), and there is no way to prove that that the man%26#39;s infection was the result of contaminated beach sand at Waikiki.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is the same reaction that the State would have for any tourist who became infected. The only difference is that the man who was infected is a resident, so it actually became a story.

I wonder how many tourists have succumb to Oahu%26#39;s bacterial hazards while THEIR story received NO attention due to inability to PROVE the source of their infection.

If three residents (that we know of) have reported infection while not a single tourist has been reported infected, then tourists are either remarkably lucky or blessed with an extraordinary immune system.

...unless, of course, incidents of tourist infection simply went unreported.

'Horrible, horrible death' by infection

I am sure some people had to have gotten sick. We were there for two days and the locals on the beach were wearing sneakers. They told us they would not even walk in the sand without shoes on. I did see a man walking along the water with a metal detector while i was there and thought is he nuts. Now, the guy with the foot infection is one that walks with a metal detector. Strange. Anyway, we were there two days after the signs came down and did not swim in the ocean at all. I did see a number of people with small children swimming. I read the local papers and it said that the bacteria counts were still very high. I was disappointed that health and safety were not a priority.

'Horrible, horrible death' by infection

Another story about the water:

honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article…

We played in the sand and water near the Outrigger Reef, Waikiki Shores hotels between the 13th and 16th and have no infections yet. These are the Hotels just east of the Military museum and Hale Koa military hotel. No signs were posted warning of contamination or beach closure. The water conditons varied from slightly murky when the waves were breaking at high tide to clear and blue in the morning.

Perhaps the tourist are more cautious.

I swam and played in the sand in Waikiki with my family on Saturday. I cut my toe on the reef. As of today, no infections and healing great! All my family members are as health as can be. Three people with infections out of 800,000, seems kinda like goods odds.

Horrible death by infection - was not a normal occurance. A man with open wounds, who was just in a fight, fell into the most highly contaminated area, with an immune system weakened by liver disease, and died with more than one kind of bacterial infection.

It%26#39;s interesting to know that people would put their own families at risk for the sake of having a little fun, but while that stands as an indicator of ones%26#39; personal priorities it does NOT serve as a benchmark for public safety.

To use it as an indicator in that regard, or to make any such implication, is both selfishly irresponsible and reckless to the point of endangering others.

It would seem that a more appropriate mantra from our hotel industry advocates should read:

';Come to Hawaii and play, even if it kills you!';

At Waikiki beach, I met a good friend of mine who is a local heart surgeon and he has been surfing Waikiki for over a week with no problems. As a medical professional, he also didn’t have a problem with taking his family to the beach. Both my friend and I have no association with the hotel industry as implied by another forum member.

I heard on talk radio, some individuals ranting they will not go in the water anywhere in Hawaii for at least five years. That’s their prerogative, but the reality is a lot of people (residents and tourists) have visited Hawaii’s beaches and there is no public health crisis. As far as claiming forum members are being selfish and endangering their kids, I think that’s stepping over the line into the whelm of being downright rude and has no place on this forum.

Check this out, Folks.

Here%26#39;s a report where a ';DOCTOR'; is quoted as saying:

';It is unlikely that staphylococci -- the bacteria often blamed for infections -- could live in the sand for so long.';

starbulletin.com/2006/04/17/news/story03.html

...and yet, here is another story where the sand was actually tested for bacteria, proving that the ';doctor'; was so completely wrong that he probably didn%26#39;t have a clue what he was talking about!

starbulletin.com/2006/04/18/news/story05.html

Everyone needs to stay away from Hawaii until I say that it%26#39;s safe. I%26#39;ll let you know after August when we visit if it%26#39;s ok to come back. Until then, stay home.

I was so happy to see a healthy looking Kailua in those pics. It has to be good news for those of us visiting later in the year to see that.

BTW - Nice title. I still like ';Bacteria counts are in - Time to swim your arms and legs off';

I killed that thread after it stayed up too many days past my point.

I thought that thread was very informative, boeingman.

I wouldn%26#39;t recommend avoiding Hawaii altogether, just Oahu beaches, and Waikiki Beach in particular.

You%26#39;ve got love how hilarious this must seem to those who are reading it. I start a thread on this issue and the usual shills and trolls follow in an attempt to downplay the situation.

University of Hawaii Sea Grant coastal geologist, Dolan Eversole says:

';tests conducted last week showed the sand had bacterial levels higher than what is acceptable for water.';

Peterkailua,

To unwittingly expose your own kids to such hazard is one thing (that%26#39;s your concern for which I could care less about), but to openly brag about it and use it to imply that conditions are ';safe'; is overtly exploitative.

It is selfish. It is reckless. And it is dangerous advice to follow.

To decry anyone who casts light on this as ';downright rude'; seems rather arrogant, and gives the appearance that someone is just a little upset because they%26#39;re not getting their own way.

If anything is truely ';over the line'; it is posting dangerous advice that could adversly affect the health of others. Getting all worked-up just because someone pointed this out is knee-slapping silly.