Campylobacter

[Candaules]

I've just been listening to a Radio 4 item about food poisoning. As well as the usual sources (undercooked chicken, burgers, etc.) it said that MTB riders have contracted campylobacter from contaminated mud.
This worries me, as some of the canal towpaths around here (Brum) are surfaced with a thick sticky layer of reprocessed dogsh!t. Sometimes, after a canal ride, my bike smells really ripe. What risks are we exposing ourselves to? Has anyone suffered?

 

[Sara_H]

Just wash your hands before you eat.

 

[hoski]

Just wash your hands before you eat.

This.

When I was a kid, I was constantly reminded to wash my hands before I ate. Seems to have gone by the wayside now in adulthood... but it really is a good piece of advice.

 

[Psyclist]

Thought this was about a new Campagnolo project looking at the title

 

[Herzog]

I've just been listening to a Radio 4 item about food poisoning. As well as the usual sources (undercooked chicken, burgers, etc.) it said that MTB riders have contracted campylobacter from contaminated mud.
This worries me, as some of the canal towpaths around here (Brum) are surfaced with a thick sticky layer of reprocessed dogsh!t. Sometimes, after a canal ride, my bike smells really ripe. What risks are we exposing ourselves to? Has anyone suffered?

As a research microbiologist (environmental), I would say not to worry. Infection risk would be greater if you were riding in areas where there were large numbers of animals grazing, but even then, simple actions like not swallowing gallons of mud, washing your hands etc., should suffice to stop any transmission.

Do you have a link to the study? My guess would be contaminated food consumed after the race/event.

 

[Cycleops]

Interesting, when I saw the thread title I thought it was a new Campagnolo groupset.

 

[tadpole]

mud and Sh!T thrown up by the wheels on to your drinks bottle, will give you a fair dose of the Trots. As happened to several riders on the Tour of Britain this year.

 

[lulubel]

I had to google this: Campylobacter

I liked the first suggestion under "Examination".

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Thought this was about a new Campagnolo project looking at the title

He, he: I knew what it is from this most gripping read I had to memorize: " Health and Hygiene for caterers in 2000 pages"

 

[vickster]

I had Campylobacter a year or so ago, nasty...caught from a Chinese takeaway I believe...needed antibiotics...

 

[Electric_Andy]

I've just been listening to a Radio 4 item about food poisoning. As well as the usual sources (undercooked chicken, burgers, etc.) it said that MTB riders have contracted campylobacter from contaminated mud.
This worries me, as some of the canal towpaths around here (Brum) are surfaced with a thick sticky layer of reprocessed dogsh!t. Sometimes, after a canal ride, my bike smells really ripe. What risks are we exposing ourselves to? Has anyone suffered?

Yeah wash hands, also don't rub your eyes - we are all pretty conscious about putting dirty fingers in our mouth but the eyes are very exposed thus bacteria can be transferred really easily this way

 

[danjanoob]

Reading this makes me pity this country.

Everyone stop worrying about everything!

 

[BrumJim]

Avoid the silent killer. Get out on your mountain bike, and wash your hands before you eat anything.

 

[Paul.G.]

When I was a lad, the common saying was ''a bit of muck never hurt anyone'' however' always clean your drinks bottles well after a ride and I generally give them a soak in Milton fluid once in a while,nor at least when I remember to do it.