OLYMPIC-SIZE THREAT

‘Super Bacteria’ Found in Rio Water

Now drug-resistant strains threaten Rio beaches.

Brazilian scientists say they have found a drug-resistant bacteria growing off Rio de Janeiro’s beaches. The so-called super bacteria is believed to have made its way through the city’s waterways after sewage from local hospitals was channeled into the bay, said scientist Renata Picao. “We have been looking for ‘super bacteria’ in coastal waters during a one-year period in five beaches,” Picao said. “We found that the threats occur in coastal waters in a variety of concentrations and that they are strongly associated with pollution.” German Paralympic sailor Heiko Kroger said during a recent visit to Rio, “It’s a nice sailing area but every time you get some water in your face, it feels like there’s some alien enemy entering your face. I keep my nose and my lips closed.” Picao blamed the bacteria’s spread on Rio’s “fragile” sanitation infrastructure.