What’s Happening in Infectious Disease?

As the Olympics come to a close in Paris, we can’t help but lean into the infectious disease news that emerged from the French capital during the event.

Not long into the Paris 2024 Olympics, concerns were raised after two triathletes, Belgium’s Claire Michel and Switzerland’s Adrien Briffod, withdrew from competitions due to illness following their swim in the River Seine. Although the exact cause remains unconfirmed, reports suggest E. coli contamination may be involved. The mixed relay proceeded after organizers deemed bacteria levels safe, but these incidents have highlighted ongoing worries about water quality​.

But E.coli wasn’t the only pathogen making its way around the Olympic village; SARS-CoV-2 was another unwelcome guest. By August 5, over 40 Australian Olympians tested positive for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses at the Paris Games. This is a stark reminder that, despite many Western countries “continuing as normal,” going about life without masks and social distancing, COVID-19 remains.

Should large-scale events like the Olympics take infectious diseases more seriously? Or is infection unpreventable in areas of condensed population? Feel free to share your thoughts with us!