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The world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue can be
seen from the sailing courses
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Researchers in Brazil have
discovered a drug-resistant bacteria in the sea waters where sailing and
windsurfing events will be held during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
BBC reports the "super-bacteria" is
usually found in hospital waste and produces an enzyme, KPC, resistant to
antibiotics.
Researchers found the bacteria in
samples taken from Flamengo beach.
Nearly 70% of sewage in Rio - a city
of some 10 million people - is spilled raw into the waters of Guanabara Bay.
The bacteria was found in samples
taken from several locations along the Carioca river.
One of the them was at the point
where the river flows into the bay on Flamengo beach.
Residents have been told to take
extra care. Flamengo beach is frequently declared unfit for swimming, but many
people disregard the official warnings.
'Not completely clean'
The superbug can cause urinary,
gastrointestinal and pulmonary infections.
"The problem is that in case of
infection it is possible that treatment involves hospitalisation," said
Ana Paula D'Alincourt Carvalho Assef, the study coordinator at Rio's renowned
Oswaldo Cruz Institute.
"Since the super-bacteria is
resistant to the most modern medications, doctors need to rely on drugs that
are rarely used because they are toxic to the organism." she told the AP
news agency.
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Hundreds of millions of gallons of untreated sewage
flows daily into Guanabara Bay
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In its Olympic bid, Rio promised to
reduce pollution in Guanabara Bay by 80%.
But in June Rio Mayor Eduardo Silva
admitted the target would not be met.
"I am sorry that we did not use
the games to get Guanabara Bay completely clean," said Mr Paes.
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The government has built artificial beaches with clean
water for Rio's poorer communities
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The authorities say they understand
athletes' concerns but insist that water pollution will not pose a major health
risk during the Olympics, which will held in August 2016.
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