Pond reopens after testing for bacteria

Hawaii County park officials are reopening a "hot pond" in lower Puna after tests showed it contained no elevated levels of certain dangerous bacteria.

The county closed the Ahalanui Park pond for about a week after a Maui man said he contracted a rare, flesh-eating disease after swimming in it.

Steve Johnson, 70, said he believes he contracted the infection as a result of entering the pond with an open wound on his leg. Signs warn against swimming with open wounds, but Johnson said he did not see them.

The lagoon has been known to foster bacterial growth due to its warmth.

State officials tested for bacteria — enterococcus and clostridium — that are indicators of human sewage, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported. Johnson’s infection was caused by other types of bacteria — streptococcus and staphylococcus — but these are difficult to test for because they live naturally in the environment, said Gary Gill, deputy director of the Hawaii Department of Health.

Johnson, who lost several layers of skin on his right leg, was released from Hilo Medical Center on Thursday after staying there almost a month.