SEAL BEACH : River Water to Be Tested for Hepatitis

The Surfrider Foundation announced this week that it plans to test water dumped from the San Gabriel River into the ocean for the virus that causes hepatitis.

Gordon Labedz, a foundation member and physician, said the group decided to do the tests because some surfers have complained about getting ill after being in the water at the mouth of the river.

Most of the illnesses are minor sinus and stomach infections, but group members also say they have heard about dozens of undocumented infectious hepatitis cases. Doctors handling such cases are required to report them to the county health department.

County health records show only two infectious hepatitis cases in Seal Beach last year. Also, the County Health Care Agency, which samples ocean waters off the coast weekly, has never had a documented case of any serious illness from swimming in the ocean off Orange County.

The water that empties from the San Gabriel River comes from three sewage treatment plants upstream and is tested by the Los Angeles County Sanitation District. Labedz said the foundation wants to work with the sanitation district, which tests for bacteria, but not viruses, at the river mouth. Testing and an attempt to document cases will begin sometime this winter, he added.