E. coli alert: Swimming at Southwick Beach State Park still prohibited | Public service news

HENDERSON – Swimming at Southwick Beach State Park remained prohibited Wednesday after elevated levels of E. coli were detected in the water.

Initial tests on Monday found 1,413.6 E. coli colonies/100 milliliters. A result of 235 E. coli colonies/100 milliliters or more is more than acceptable, according to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation.

Officials said on Wednesday that the number had fallen by about 1,000 to 416.

Dan Keefe, spokesman for state parks, said the beach was closed because of “unacceptable levels of bacteria in water samples, likely due to recent heavy rains and winds.”

“This ban is a precautionary measure to protect the health and safety of swimmers,” he said in a statement. “Water quality samples have been resubmitted for testing and we are currently awaiting the results to determine whether we can reopen. A notification will be provided at the park and on the park website.”

The tests are carried out daily.

Faith Lustik, director of prevention services for the Jefferson County Health Department, said the problem is people consuming the water.

“Whenever there is heavy rain or flooding in a region, we are concerned about E. coli,” she said.

E. coli colonies are found in feces and can enter wells, which is why health officials are concerned after heavy rains or floods.

E. coli is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, meaning that simply being in the water is not a problem. People can become sick if they drink the water.

It makes everyone sick, but can cause more severe illness in immunocompromised, elderly or younger people, which Lustik described as “severe diarrhea.”

“Anyone who has diarrhea for any reason that lasts longer than three days or diarrhea with fever… bloody diarrhea, things like that, extreme stomach cramps, should see their doctor,” she said. “Because those can be serious symptoms.”

Chlorinating household water and washing hands can help stop the spread of E. coli. However, in the lake, the E. coli bacteria disappear over time.

“More water is being introduced in which it does not occur. This reduces the concentration and we do not necessarily get sick,” said Lustik.

Typical symptoms of an E. coli infection include fever of over 39 degrees Celsius, diarrhea lasting several days, nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps, and symptoms generally associated with food poisoning.

Attempts to reach the state health ministry were unsuccessful on Wednesday.