Hot tubs ‘bubbling with deadly bacteria’

BETTER think twice before soothing those aching muscles in a whirlpool bath or hot tub. A new study shows that whirlpool bathtubs can be a breeding ground for a host of disease-causing bacteria.

Dr Rita B Moyes, a microbiologist at Texas A&M University, tested 43 water samples from both private and public whirlpool bathtubs. “Every tub tested had some kind of microbial growth,” she said.

“And I was just getting the few organisms I was testing for, so it is probably just the tip of the iceberg as far as what is really present. Also, I did no viral testing,” Moyes emphasised.