What to Know
- The advisory was issued for Golden Beach, Crandon Beach North and Crandon Beach South.
- The department said two consecutive water samples collected exceeded the federal and state recommended standard for enterococci.
- The standard is 70 colony forming units per 100-milliliter sample.
The Florida Department of Health has issued a swimming advisory for three Miami-Dade County beaches after an excess amount of a fecal bacteria called enterococci was discovered in water samples, the agency said.
The advisory was issued for Golden Beach, Crandon Beach North and Crandon Beach South. The department advises beachgoers to refrain from swimming in the ocean, as the results of the sample indicate that water contact “may pose an increased risk of illness,” according to a news release.
The department said two consecutive water samples collected exceeded the federal and state recommended standard for enterococci. The standard is 70 colony forming units per 100-milliliter sample. A forming unit is what is used to estimate the number of visible bacteria or fungal cells within a sample.
Enterococci bacteria are normally found in the intestinal tract of humans and animals and can cause diseases, infections or illnesses for humans such as urinary tract infections and, though less frequently, meningitis and pneumonia.
The department did not say how long the swimming advisory would be in effect.
