Relationship of Tijuana River Flow and Ocean Bacteria Counts and Emergency Department Diarrhea Cases
Introduction: The Tijuana River, which affects southern San Diego Beaches, is severely contaminated with untreated sewage. Exposure to pathogens can lead to various health problems, commonly gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses. We aimed to look for any relationship between Tijuana River flow rates and o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eScholarship Publishing, University of California
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0hh6f7w3 |
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| author | Jaya Jost Conor Youngblood Peter Jost Roberto Medero |
| author_facet | Jaya Jost Conor Youngblood Peter Jost Roberto Medero |
| author_sort | Jaya Jost |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: The Tijuana River, which affects southern San Diego Beaches, is severely contaminated with untreated sewage. Exposure to pathogens can lead to various health problems, commonly gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses. We aimed to look for any relationship between Tijuana River flow rates and ocean pollution levels and levels of diarrhea at a nearby Emergency Department (ED). Methods: In this retrospective study that spanned the 2023 dry season and included Hurricane Hillary, we compared Tijuana River flow rates and fecal bacterial counts on the southern San Diego County coastline to the number of visits to a nearby ED, specifically a 225-patient sample size, with the chief complaint of diarrhea, a potential waterborne illness. Results: In late August of 2023, after Hurricane Hillary made landfall as a tropical storm in Baja California, Mexico, there was a large increase in the Tijuana River flow rate and a correspondingly significant increase in diarrhea cases at 3.25 times the mean, from a mean of 4.25 cases per week to 14 cases the week of Hurricane Hillary. Conclusion: We found a significant correlation between Tijuana River transboundary flow rates and Emergency Department case levels of diarrhea, a known waterborne illness, in the summer of 2023. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aadc059ec2204e91a43a87ac278f8575 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1936-900X 1936-9018 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | eScholarship Publishing, University of California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-aadc059ec2204e91a43a87ac278f85752025-08-20T03:41:19ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine1936-900X1936-90182025-07-0126487687910.5811/westjem.41492wjem-26-876Relationship of Tijuana River Flow and Ocean Bacteria Counts and Emergency Department Diarrhea CasesJaya Jost0Conor Youngblood1Peter Jost2Roberto Medero3Miramar College, San Diego, CaliforniaUniversity of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CaliforniaScripp Mercy Chula Vista, Department of Emergency Medicine, Chula Vista, CaliforniaScripp Mercy Chula Vista, Department of Emergency Medicine, Chula Vista, CaliforniaIntroduction: The Tijuana River, which affects southern San Diego Beaches, is severely contaminated with untreated sewage. Exposure to pathogens can lead to various health problems, commonly gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses. We aimed to look for any relationship between Tijuana River flow rates and ocean pollution levels and levels of diarrhea at a nearby Emergency Department (ED). Methods: In this retrospective study that spanned the 2023 dry season and included Hurricane Hillary, we compared Tijuana River flow rates and fecal bacterial counts on the southern San Diego County coastline to the number of visits to a nearby ED, specifically a 225-patient sample size, with the chief complaint of diarrhea, a potential waterborne illness. Results: In late August of 2023, after Hurricane Hillary made landfall as a tropical storm in Baja California, Mexico, there was a large increase in the Tijuana River flow rate and a correspondingly significant increase in diarrhea cases at 3.25 times the mean, from a mean of 4.25 cases per week to 14 cases the week of Hurricane Hillary. Conclusion: We found a significant correlation between Tijuana River transboundary flow rates and Emergency Department case levels of diarrhea, a known waterborne illness, in the summer of 2023.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0hh6f7w3 |
| spellingShingle | Jaya Jost Conor Youngblood Peter Jost Roberto Medero Relationship of Tijuana River Flow and Ocean Bacteria Counts and Emergency Department Diarrhea Cases Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| title | Relationship of Tijuana River Flow and Ocean Bacteria Counts and Emergency Department Diarrhea Cases |
| title_full | Relationship of Tijuana River Flow and Ocean Bacteria Counts and Emergency Department Diarrhea Cases |
| title_fullStr | Relationship of Tijuana River Flow and Ocean Bacteria Counts and Emergency Department Diarrhea Cases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationship of Tijuana River Flow and Ocean Bacteria Counts and Emergency Department Diarrhea Cases |
| title_short | Relationship of Tijuana River Flow and Ocean Bacteria Counts and Emergency Department Diarrhea Cases |
| title_sort | relationship of tijuana river flow and ocean bacteria counts and emergency department diarrhea cases |
| url | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0hh6f7w3 |
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