Update: The swimming advisory has been lifted. The original story is below.
VIRGINIA BEACH – If you were planning on swimming near the Lynnhaven Inlet, public health officials say you should hold off.
A swimming advisory was issued for the Virginia Beach inlet, between Rockbridge and Starfish Roads, on Wednesday afternoon after bacteria levels in the water tested at levels higher than deemed safe.
The bacteria levels are monitored “using indicator organisms such as Enterococcus.”
“The coastal waters of Virginia are generally very clean, and we test them weekly from May through September,” said Heidi Kulberg, M.D., director of the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health, in a news release. “On the occasions when waters fail to meet the standards, we need to protect public health by letting residents and visitors know.”
Warning signs will be posted on the beach and surrounding roadways to alert swimmers of the advisory. Swimming and wading are prohibited until bacteria returns to safe levels.
The Enterococci organisms are used to determine levels of fecal contamination in recreational waters. Officials said they don’t cause illness, but studies show their presence is “closely correlated to the presence of other disease-causing organisms.”
Swimming or playing in waters with elevated bacteria levels are at risk of developing gastrointestinal illness, and skin, eye and respiratory infections.
“We encourage the public to protect their health by complying with this advisory,” Kulberg said in the release. “Typically an advisory of this nature is temporary and will be withdrawn once the bacteria levels have returned to safe levels.”
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