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Hidden germs in public pools are making more people sick

The CDC is out with new numbers reporting that bacteria counts are off the charts at public pools and water parks across the country.
/ Source: TODAY

Summer's here and kids can't wait to get in the water, from public pools to water parks. But the CDC is out with new numbers, reporting that thousands of such facilities across the country have to be shut down because bacteria counts are off the charts. More people than ever are getting sick.

TODAY national investigative correspondent Jeff Rossen went undercover, collecting samples from pubic pools and sending them to a certified lab for analysis. The results were startling.

Only one pool Rossen Reports tested came back as completely clean — and that one tested too high for chlorine, which is generally not a problem but can cause breathing issues and burns in children with sensitive skin. Fortunately, chlorine testing kits that can be bought for about $10 in any big-box store can tell you whether it's safe to jump in.

To suggest a topic for an upcoming investigation, visit the Rossen Reports Facebook page.