Those who feel like taking a refreshing dip in the Hoornseplas near Eelderwolde, it is better to think about it for a while. After swimming in the water, several people suffered from complaints that resemble swimmer’s itching. The province of Groningen has therefore issued negative swimming advice.
Swimmer’s itch is caused by larvae of the flatworm. The parasites end up in the water via bird poop, after which they nestle in snails. Then they can also crawl into human skin, and that causes skin irritation. People suffer from itching and red bumps, which can last for three weeks.
Signs were hung on the swimming lake to warn bathers of the infected water. The person who really wants to take a cooling dip, it is better to move to the nearby Paterswoldsemeer.