County health dept. investigating ‘possible illness’ at local water park
By Brandi Makuski
The Portage Co. Health Department is investigating after a local woman made a public accusation blaming a Dewey waterpark for her child’s rash.
The claim was made on Facebook but has since been removed. River’s Edge Campground, home of the man-made water park on Campground Dr. in Dewey, addressed the issue on its Facebook page this week.
“A guest reported that her child was diagnosed with impetigo last Friday, July 14. Our local health department informed us that impetigo is not a water-borne illness. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control agrees, advising that impetigo is spread by skin-to-skin contact among children,” the page reads. “But the health and safety of our guests are the top priority here. We routinely clean our equipment. Our pond water is regularly tested and managed by a professional pond management company. We have performed extra cleanings of all the inflatable toys, slides, surfaces, life vests and other equipment. We had additional tests of the pond water performed. We have been working closely with our local health department. They license our campground and have been a great resource to us in managing public health and safety. We are confident that the efforts we have made are an overreaction, but it is one we are glad to make. We are confident our pond and playground are as safe as they are fun.”
A Monday email from the Portage County Public Health Department said they’d been notified of “possible illnesses among attendees” who visited the campground and used the water park on the weekend of July 7, 8, and 9, 2023.
Someone the symptoms reported include diarrhea, vomiting, and skin sores, the email said.
Public health staff are working with the operators of the campground to address the situation.
Anyone who is experiencing illness after using the pond at River’s Edge is asked to contact their local health department, or Portage County Public Health at [email protected] or by
calling 715-345-5907. Leave a message and someone will call you back.
