Innerrhoden health authority suspects duck fleas in Lake Sämtis
Published: Thursday, Jul 18th 2024, 09:40
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After swimming in Lake Sämtis in the Alpstein massif, several people have developed a skin rash. The Innerrhoden Department of Health assumes an infestation of duck fleas. The canton advises against swimming in the lake.
It can be assumed that there is a large amount of duck fleas in the water of Lake Sämtis, as the Department of Health and Social Affairs of the Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden wrote in a press release on Thursday. Due to the rising water temperatures, the larvae of sucking worms known as duck fleas are multiplying rapidly in stagnant water.
According to the Department of Health and Social Affairs, if duck fleas mistakenly infest a person instead of waterfowl, this leads to a skin rash with severe itching, hives, burning and pustules. Although the symptoms are unpleasant, they are generally harmless.
This is not the first time that swimmers have reported skin rashes after swimming in Lake Sämtis. The canton already advised against swimming in the lake in summer 2020. Duck fleas were also suspected back then.
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