June 15, 2006
Beavers are notorious carriers of giardia (beaver fever)
Water treatment plants are designed to eliminate giardia
A short drive upriver from Bethel is all it takes to realize the YK Delta is being invaded. The evidence is all around, wood chips, fallen trees and intricately constructed stick homes that would make an engineer proud. Yes, the paluqtuqs (beavers) are here.
The days of trapping for high-priced furs are over, allowing the paluqtuq population to increase. Personally, the opportunity to watch a beaver surface, swim alongside my boat then disappear with a thunderous slap of its tail is one of the magnificent experiences of living in Alaska.
The privilege of living among the world's largest rodents does not come without a price, however. Beavers are notorious carriers of giardia (beaver fever) and residents must know how to protect themselves.
The primary symptoms of beaver fever are diarrhea, cramps, headaches, nausea, vomiting and fever. These symptoms may last only two weeks in healthy people, but can last for several months or cause death in the very young, weak or elderly.
The best way to prevent the disease is to know a little about it. Giardia usually lives in the environment as a cyst. The cyst looks similar to a salmon egg, but is so small that it can only be seen through a microscope. It has a tough, durable shell around the outside to protect it from harm. When the cyst is swallowed the shell is dissolved by stomach acid and the organism is free to infect our bodies.
Your community water treatment plant is designed to remove giardia cysts and protect people from getting this horrible disease. In fact, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) enforces strict standards that were created to ensure the cysts are removed.
Untreated water from rivers, lakes and tundra ponds may contain giardia and should never be used for drinking. Hikers, boaters and campers are especially at risk.
If drinking water from the water treatment plant cannot be brought along, a filter designed to remove giardia should be used to purify the water. By remembering some information about giardia and how to protect yourself you'll be able to enjoy the paluqtaq without fearing the disease they carry.