People may want to hold off swimming at Palm Beach’s Midtown Beach, after Florida health officials issued a health advisory over the high levels of fecal bacteria off the shore.
Although the advisory from the Florida Department of Health does not bar people from heading into the water at the municipal beach, it does encourage bathers to be cautious. Anyone who enter the water is urged to shower immediately afterward, health officials said.
The warning comes after a weekly test on July 27 by the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County showed high levels of enterococci bacteria, Palm Beach officials said in a July 28 announcement.
Enterococci bacteria are found in the intestines of almost every animal on earth, but some strains can cause human disease, infection or rash, according to health officials.
The advisory will remain in place until those levels return to a normal range, according to the town’s announcement.
For the water to be considered safe, there must be 35 parts or fewer of enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, according to the health department. The July 27 sample had 74 parts per 100 milliliters of water. Water quality is considered poor when levels are above 70 parts per 100, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Health officials were expected to collect a new water sample from Midtown Beach on July 29, according to the Palm Beach announcement.
For questions or updates about beach water-quality monitoring, call the Florida Department of Health at 561-671-4013 or visit PalmBeach.FloridaHealth.gov.
Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach’s Midtown Beach under health advisory because of bacteria
Reporting by Diego Diaz Lasa, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Diego Diaz Lasa, Palm Beach Daily News | USA TODAY Network
