San Diego City Wire

San Diego County Public Health Services has launched a webpage dedicated to monitoring gastrointestinal illnesses in the South Bay community. The County started tracking the reports of illnesses in August and now issues a weekly Surveillance Bulletin on South Region Gastrointestinal Illness every Thursday.

Dr. Ankita Kadakia, the County’s deputy public health officer, emphasized the importance of avoiding contaminated water, stating, "As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have advised, when people come into direct contact with sewage contaminated water, it can lead to a number of illnesses, including those that result in emergency room visits and at times hospitalizations."

The data reviewed so far has not shown any significant increases in reportable gastrointestinal illnesses or related emergency department visits in the South Bay Region. County health officials are also analyzing data collected by medical professionals embedded with a South Bay clinic, with results expected within the next 30 days.

The County of San Diego is actively advocating for additional funding and a binational solution to address the release of untreated sewage that flows across the border into the Tijuana River Valley and reaches the waters off South County beaches.

In addition to the surveillance efforts, the County is providing timely reports and maps of local water quality online, encouraging residents to stay informed and avoid contaminated water. Residents are reminded to prioritize clean beaches and waterways for their well-being.

The County's commitment to monitoring and addressing gastrointestinal illnesses in the South Bay region reflects its dedication to public health and safety.

For more information and updates, residents can visit the County's dedicated webpage on gastrointestinal illnesses.