BEACH HEALTH ADVISORY UPDATE JULY 1, 2016
New Health Advisory Update from the Florida Department of Health.
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The Health Advisory for the Blue Mountain Beach Access has been lifted. The water quality in this area has improved considerably due to the reduction in bacteria levels.
• Water quality classifications are based upon United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recommended criteria and Florida Healthy Beaches Program Categories:
Good = 0 - 35 Enterococci CFU per 100 ml of marine
• Blue Mountain Beach Access levels are now reported as:
4 CFU per 100 ml of marine water.
The Florida Department of Health in Walton County (DOH-Walton) has not issued “no swim advisories” for any the beaches in Walton County. DOH-Walton has issued health advisories at specific beaches due to elevated sample levels of a bacteria called enterococci. Enterococci is not flesh eating bacteria. It is bacteria that normally inhabits the intestinal tract of humans and animals. It may cause human disease, infections, or rashes, but for the vast majority of people, the risk of serious illness is minimal.
An otherwise healthy person may have no problems with contact with the water of a beach that is under advisory. Some may experience a minor inflammation of a cut, a mild sore throat or mild diarrhea after exposure to water from a beach under a health advisory. The greatest risk is for very young children, the elderly and people who have compromised immune systems since their ability to fight off infection is limited by age or disease. It is important to understand that a “health advisory” is not the same as a “no swim advisory.”
The national media is calling Vibrio vulnificus a “flesh eating bacteria.” That is incorrect. Vibrio vulnificus is naturally occurring along U.S. coastlines and infections from this bacteria (are) rare. We have not had a confirmed case of a Vibrio vulnificus infection in Walton County this year.
If you should have any questions, please contact DOH-Walton at (850) 892-8021 or visit the Florida Department of Health’s Beach Water Quality website
Healthy Environments | Florida Department of Health
We will continue to rely on the Florida Department of Health's sampling and their results and we will continue to post the most recent results as soon as we receive them.