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B.C.U. AFFILIATED (ESTABLISHED 1983)

Weil's Disease

Disclaimer

What is it ?

Weil's disease is a RARE but serious illness.
It is caused by bacteria carried in the urine of rats (and some other animals) which gets into the waterways.

Precautions

Avoid capsize drill or rolling in stagnant or obviously polluted water.

Whenever possible, wash or shower after canoeing.

Cover minor scratches on exposed parts of the body with water proof plaster.

Use footwear to avoid cutting feet.

The illness is very rare, but can be contacted anywhere.

The descending scale of risk is :-

  •  Stagnant water
  •  Canals and slow moving rivers
    particularly after flash floods
  •  Swifter streams.

Should you become ill after canoeing (2-19 days) with a flu-like illness (temperature, aching limbs and joints) call your doctor and tell him/her that you are a canoeist and may have come into contact with the Leptospirosis bacteria - see the back of your BCU Members Yearbook.

Contact the BCU Office for more information

Please send a stamped address envelope for standard hand-out to :-

Canoe England,
18 Market Place,
Birmingham,
NG13 8AP.

Telephone : 0845 370 9500

E-mail : info@bcu.org.uk

Website : www.bcu.org.uk