Tough Mudder in California leaves participants with bacterial infections

More than 100 people who participated in a Tough Mudder obstacle course race in California apparently contracted bacterial infections during the event.

The competitors, who took part in the obstacle course at Sonoma Raceway on Aug. 19 and 20, have reported experiencing fevers, vomiting, muscle pain and a distinct rash that includes boils.

At least 112 participants contacted Tough Mudder to report “bumpy, pus-filled, rash-like infections,” including several of whom were “hospitalized for days,” NBC News reported. The network cited an email that estimated more than 300 racers were infected.

“Anywhere on my body that touched the ground had red spots,” participant Chris Palakos told KTVU.

Three days after the event, Sonoma County public health officials released a health advisory for all racers, urging anyone with symptoms to go to the hospital.

“The Tough Mudder race involved extensive skin exposure to mud. Most affected persons have pustular rash, fever, myalgias, and headache. These symptoms could be indicative of a minor illness called Swimmers’ Itch, but they can also indicate a Staph infection or other more serious bacterial infection such as Aeromonas,” the advisory said.

In a statement to NBC, Tough Mudder said it was conducting its own investigation and is assisting the county health department.

A Tough Mudder event involves participants traversing a series of obstacles over a 5K, 10K or 15K course. Much like the name suggests, racers crawl through mud, wade through waist-deep muddy water and climb muddy hills.

As it turns out, mud is inherently dangerous because it can house thousands of species of bacteria, Dr. Henry Chambers, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at San Francisco General Hospital, told NBC News. Choosing to roll around in the mud only exposes you to potential infection, he said.

“The best way to prevent it, other than not doing the course is to immediately clean off, shower right away, so that organisms don’t have a chance to get established,” Chambers told the network.