State health officials are warning people to avoid the water at Midtown Beach after a recent water-quality sample found high levels of fecal bacteria.
Although the advisory from the Florida Department of Health does not bar swimming, it does encourage people to be cautious. Anyone who does enter the water is urged to shower immediately afterward, health officials said.
The March 3 advisory came after a March 2 routine weekly test found high levels of enterococci bacteria, the advisory said.
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 until the health department can confirm that those bacteria levels return to a normal range, according to a press release.
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 water at Midtown Beach tested above 70.5 parts per 100. That’s the level at which water quality is considered poor and a health advisory is automatically triggered, according to health officials.
For questions about beach water quality monitoring in Florida, 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 hit with health advisory for fecal bacteria
Reporting by Diego Diaz Lasa, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
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