CDC advises against swimming with diarrhea, but all Twitter sees is the gif the agency used

(CNN) – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn against to swim with diarrhea, and the image used to communicate this warning is giving something to talk about.

The agency tweeted a warning that “one person with diarrhea can contaminate the entire pool,” along with an animated gif of a girl sliding down a slide leaving a brown streak.

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

The CDC included a link to their guide on diarrhea and swimming, but the comments in the tweet seemed to relate to what was behind the colorful graphic.

Many were disgusted, while others pointed out that taxpayer money could have funded the work behind that animation.

If you can’t get past the cartoon that repeatedly leaves its mark on the pool slide, here are the agency recommendations:

• Stay out of the water if you have diarrhea. If you have been diagnosed with cryptosporidium, do not return to the water until two weeks after the diarrhea has completely stopped.
• Use test strips to make sure the water has an adequate free chlorine level (amount of chlorine available to kill germs) or bromine level and pH.
• Take a shower before getting into the water. Rinsing in the shower for as little as 1 minute removes most of the dirt that is on your body.
• Don’t poop in the water.
• Don’t swallow the water.
• Take the kids to the bathroom and check the diapers every hour.