(Des Moines)– People shouldn’t be overly concerned about a recent study by the Des Moines Register that revealed the presence of antibiotic-resistent E-coli bacteria in West Lake Okoboji.
That’s the message from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Mary Skupeck is a Water Monitoring Supervisor for the agency. She says these E-coli are not the same as those that make people ill when they eat contaminated ground beef. Skupeck says the type found in West Okoboji is non-pathogenic, meaning it won’t cause disease. She says this type of bacteria normally colonizes in the guts of warm-blooded animals. The fact that it’s resistant to antibiotics, Skupeck says, is another indicator that the drugs are being overly prescribed.
Skupeck says based on what they know as of right now atleast, the D-N-R has no plans to ban swimming or other recreational activities on the lake.
The sample that had the antibiotic-resistant bacteria in it was taken from the beach at Pike’s Point State Park in April of this year.
