Parasite colony shuts down Carpenter House showers

Showers in Carpenter House have been closed for almost a week because of infestations of nematode worms.

The worms have been present in the second floor showers since early summer. Students made requests to the Facilities Department, but work began only in the last few weeks.

Initially facilities attempted to clean the showers before attempting extermination. It was not until the fourth visit that a plumber came and determined that complete tile renovation was required.

Work is scheduled to be completed and the showers should be reopened by Sunday.

Facilities became involved only after many requests. "I called every day several times a day," Resident Assistant Page Davis said.

Davis said she first discovered the parasites in the shower around three weeks ago. "I woke up to take an early shower and Anna the cleaning lady pointed the worms out to me."

Nematodes develop in the tepid water that collects overnight in shower stalls. According to Davis, there is a problem with ventilation in the female bathrooms.

"They don't come up unless there's stagnant water, the cleaning lady gets them out but there's bound to be still water," said Carpenter resident Sarah Lim.

Before the showers were closed, students wore sandals to avoid contact with water. "I was reluctant to use them" Lim said.

The showers on the second floor were the only showers for the 24 women in the building. During the repairs, residents have used the male showers on the first and third floor or showered in other resident halls.

Davis said that this hasn't been a problem as "everyone has different schedules".

Chris Lintz, a first floor resident said that the girls using the men's showers "has not really been an issue. In fact, our showers are almost too gross. They have worms up there and then come down here and say 'no way' and go to the third floor."

Students have commented on the atrocious nature of the infested showers. "It's absolutely disgusting," Davis said.

Though students are disgusted by it, Associate Professor Jeffery Griffiths of the Tufts Medical School said "most nematode worms are non-pathogenic to humans." The nematode worms must infect the right type of animal for it to be harmful to that organism.

There are over 12,000 types of nematode worms. Certain species can cause rashes and intestinal problems to humans.

Facilities declined to comment on the problem.

Lintz was concerned that Facilities made no concerted effort to make students aware of the problem. Residents learned of the situation through word of mouth, and the only information facilities posted was a sign closing the showers for repairs.