Several swimmers reported swimmers itch-like symptoms last week, but the culprit has turned out to be something altogether different
Translated by Thomas Ansell
One of the most popular swimming spots in the city of Groningen is now available again following a re-assessment of its water quality. The Hoornseplaas in the south of the City was rated as unswimmable by zwemwater.nl last week due to several people reporting symptoms of swimmers itch.
As reported by the GIC, it has now turned out that the rashes were caused by the Oak Processionary Moth caterpillars, which are covered in thousands of tiny hairs that can cause irritation if they come into contact with skin.
Therefore the advice has also been changed: people may now cool off again at the lake, but should try to avoid the caterpillars and any trees that they are on.
Blue Algae
Other places in and around Groningen still have ‘negative swimming advice’, though, due to Blue Algae in the water. De Lijte, near the Paterswoldsemeer, at the Lauwersmeer, and at the Kardingeplas are all off limits for the moment.
Photo of an Oak Processionary procession by Noah Boyer on Unsplash
