That is one of two conclusions reached by an expert, The Star reported today.
According to water quality and modelling specialist Dr Zaki Zainudin, the virus may have been caused by a person defaecating while in the hot springs, or due to a nearby sewage discharge or leakage.
“It may be that there was faecal contamination because someone did something nasty there or there was a sewage overflow within the vicinity, or from a nearby toilet. I am speculating but these are the potential possibilities.
“The virus is usually transmitted through an oral pathway. Open wounds can also facilitate infection,” he was quoted as saying by the daily.
Zaki said bacteria and viruses usually do not survive long outside the body but added that studies had proven that certain strains of bacteria and viruses could persist in the environment and survive longer than usual outside the body.
“I can see why it can happen in an uncontrolled environment, a recreational area like the hot springs.
“But in a controlled environment like a swimming pool, where it is chlorinated, the chlorine essentially kills all the bacteria and viruses and it is very hard for something like this to happen,” he was quoted as saying.
Zaki was responding to the 11 new cases of rotavirus infection recorded by the Kedah health department over the past seven days. There had also been seven other recorded cases earlier.
The cases involved children and teenagers between the ages of one and 19. They sought treatment for diarrhoea and vomiting after visiting the Ulu Legong hot springs in Baling.
Zaki said disinfecting the hot springs could be done in several ways.
“Ultraviolet disinfection may be the most feasible as it minimises risk of residual chemicals from entering the environment.
“Chlorination could also be used, because after that the water must undergo dechlorination to prevent chlorine residuals from entering watercourses. Even so, chlorination may still incur undesirable disinfection by-products,” he said, according to The Star.
Last October, it was reported that the management of the water theme park at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, Perak, was forced to shut down operations for 14 days in order for the pool to be thoroughly cleaned.
The pool water had to be replaced after a number of rotavirus and acute gastroenteritis cases were traced back to the theme park.