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Laotian tubing. 2 Australians dead 2012.alcohol water=death. l Can you tell me where does the sewerage go at the bars along the river?

4 months ago about Laos

My son just returned from diving into the river trying to rescue the first aussie killed this year. Despite finding the young man, CPR and mouth to mouth by a very brave Norwegian young woman....the man died. My son is now in hospital with a bacterial infection. Coincidence? I think more Danger warnings would be appropriate but most of all where is all the urine and feces going?

bars rivers tubing alcohol

Asked by Pamela via WorldNomads.com

4 Answers

• 0

  Pamela, that was very brave and admirable action by your son and the others who tried to help... but such a very sad outcome.
  Regarding the river water; There are some warnings to foreign visitors. For example this is what the Center for Disease Control says on its advice page for travel to Laos:
  Do not swim in fresh water (except in well-chlorinated swimming pools) to avoid infection with schistosomiasis. Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection often contracted through recreational water activities in contaminated water, such as kayaking, is common in tropical areas of Southeast Asia.
  Most western nations carry this warning on their travel advisory websites too (including Australia's smartraveller). Common sense would also tell you that sanitation infrastructure throughout South east Asia (particularly in rural areas such as Vang Vieng) won't be up to the usual western standard.
  I don't think we can expect the locals profiting from river tubing to put up any warning signs about water contamination - in fact along the Nam Song river are signs which say "diving safe" when clearly it is not!
  If there's any good to come from the tragedy of 2 lives lost this month because of river tubing, it's that more young people are aware of the dangers and will take appropriate precaution. To that end, I'm going to add a paragraph about what happened to your son to the worldnomads.com travel advice on Laos river tubing http://journals.worldnomads.com/safetyhub/story/61594/Laos/River-Tubing-in-Laos
  . Thanks for letting everyone know about it. I hope your son recovers quickly and there are no lasting affects. Send him my best wishes.
  Phil from the safety hub. 4 months ago

  Answered by Ask Phil via WorldNomads.com
• 0

  I've watched YouTube on Laos ...foreigners students tend to over drink alcohol and do drugs at Vang Vien . They are young adult and should have common sense ! Im sad that those two Austrians had died there . The misfortuned could have taken place anywhere in Southeast Asia , not just Laos. 4 months ago

  Answered by Linda via WorldNomads.com
• 0

  stupid idiots traveling around and bringing back new parasites and diseases. 2 months ago

  Answered by Luke via WorldNomads.com
• 0

  ^ any cases Luke? Besides STDs which can be caught anywhere (or STIs, whatever floats your tube), has there been any cases where a traveller or "stupid idiot" has been to beautiful Laos and returned to transmit a new parasite or disease to another?
  
  Also, very courageous of your son Pamela. Deserves a pat on the back. about 1 month ago

  Answered by Steve from 4000 islands via WorldNomads.com