“Don’t leave your mark at the pool this summer,” the CDC’s warning reads.
(Picture: Photo Credit: CDCgov/Twitter.)The CDC has issued new guidance — but it’s unlike any advisory we’re used to hearing from them as of late. It’s not about masks, or travel, or the importance of getting vaccinated (which is still very, very important!). In fact, the warning doesn’t address Covid at all.
Instead, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has taken to Twitter in an attempt to combat a lesser known — and poolside — pandemic: The nation-wide dilemma that is children swimming with active diarrhea. And they’ve done so with an especially detailed depiction of the sensation.
Don’t swim or let your kids swim if sick with diarrhea. One person with diarrhea can contaminate the entire pool. Learn more ways to keep you and those you care about healthy. #HealthySwimming https://t.co/3ogS3ZlQX6 pic.twitter.com/lbN6uvvufu
— CDC (@CDCgov) July 1, 2021
“Don’t leave your mark at the pool this summer,” the explicit gif reads. “It only takes one person with diarrhea to contaminate the entire pool.”
Or graphicly depicted.
— Sisyphus Idaho (@Sisyphus43) July 2, 2021
Sharing this gif alongside the legitimate announcement was certainly a unique choice on the center’s behalf, but considering how well a certain nation handled a certain outbreak, perhaps some people really do need health guidance of the sort laid out this plainly — and in such a graphic manner.
Plus, in the CDC’s defence, if you’ve been to a public and/or hotel pool recently, you’ll realise they all don the same sign at the entrance: “Notice: Persons having currently active diarrhea or who have had active diarrhea within the previous 14 days shall not be allowed to enter the pool water.” So really, the CDC was just making the preexisting —(and unintentionally funny) sign funnier — but also more official.
As per usual, Twitter had thoughts on the CDC’s precise portrayal of the poolside predicament.
Your taxpayer dollars were spent paying someone to make a graphic of a child pooping on a slide
— Joe Setyon (@JoeSetyon) July 1, 2021
What if you dont have diarreah when stepping into the pool, but a fart turns into a shart while in said pool? Please advise
— Scott Jones (@Ta11Texan) July 1, 2021
This has to get memed to eternity.
— Adam Morgan (@mycroft16) July 1, 2021
Per the tweet, we can learn more about the phenomenon at cdc.gov/healthyswimming. But for now, we are personally issuing new guidance, and it’s a strong suggestion the CDC to never make a gif like this again.
literal sh*tposting. well done cdc
— chip goines (@chipgoines) July 1, 2021
