Spiddal beaches superbug down to sewage flowing into sea

Bacteria that is immune to most antibiotics has been found at two beaches in County Galway where raw sewage flows into the sea.

Researchers discovered a variant of superbug CPE (carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriaceae) during testing at two beaches in Spiddal, Trá na mBan and Céibh.

The bug is not thought to cause harm to people who are in full health but could be life-threatening for vulnerable people, including those with complex, pre-existing conditions such as cancer.

Also, the bacteria remain in the gut of healthy people, possible for a year or more, and may cause complications if they develop serious conditions.

Medical experts at NUI Galway and University Hospital Galway say their findings have wider implications for public health and highlights the ill-advised continuance of pumping raw sewage into Ireland’s water systems, including in Roundstone and Spiddal.

“We found it in Spiddal because that’s where we looked. There’s no reason to believe that Spiddal is any better or worse than any of the other 43 places that are discharging raw sewage into the environment. In the paper we published, we didn’t refer to Spiddal by name at all.

“The story isn’t about Spiddal, the story is about 43 places around Ireland where we’re throwing raw sewage into the environment,” said Professor Martin Cormican of NUIG’s school of medicine.

The study was the first in Europe to uncover this virulent form of bacteria in bathing seawater, and the source is raw sewage.

The World Health Organisation has said antibiotic resistance is probably one of the greatest challenges to public health in the 21st century.

Antibiotic resistance was discussed at the General Assembly of the United Nations last September – it’s only the fourth ever health issue that has ever made it to the General Assembly of the United Nations.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.