Daytona Beach, FL – Health officials are saying don’t swim in a particular stretch of Volusia County beach due to potentially dangerous bacteria in the water.
The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County issued an advisory Monday morning for the beach area around Main Street in Daytona Beach. Health officials are not closing that stretch at this time.
FDOH-VC Environmental Specialist Eric Maday says the advisory was issued based on a recent water test that shows higher than normal levels of enterococci bacteria.
“We typically see elevated bacteria levels during this time of year due to increased migratory bird populations,” Maday added.
Enterococci bacteria levels were lower at all other beach sites tested, according to FDOH-VC.
That bacteria can be found in the intestines of humans and other animals. In this particular case, the bacteria in the ocean water is likely due to massive flocks of seabirds migrating from the north for the winter.
Health officials say this sort of bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illness, upper respiratory infections, or skin infections if open wounds or sores exist.
It’s not unusual for parts of Volusia County’s beaches to have higher than normal levels of enterococci bacteria in the winter, especially those parts that have the most seabirds like Main, Silver Beach or Seabreeze.
Advisory signs will be posted until water testing shows the bacteria levels are back down to levels deemed safe for swimming in by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The advisory could be lifted as soon as Tuesday, per FDOH-VC.
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