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Hernando Today

Swimming Advisory Posted For Pine Island

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By TONY MARRERO

Hernando Today

Published: February 13, 2009

PINE ISLAND - Officials advise against swimming at Pine Island Beach because of high bacteria counts.
Test results received by the Hernando County Health Department Thursday show unacceptable levels of bacteria in the water at Alfred McKethan Park, 10840 Pine Island Drive.
Ears and throats inundated with bacteria-laden water are prime candidates for infection. Swimmers who ingest the water are at risk for gastrointestinal illness, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The very young, the elderly and others with weak immune systems are at higher risk of serious health problems.
It's the first time since September that such an advisory has been posted. This time last year, when bacteria levels remained high for about a month, officials considered doing more extensive - and more expensive – testing at the beach to determine whether the bacteria came from animals or humans. Human fecal matter in the water could indicate leaky septic tanks in the area.
The bacteria levels dropped again, however, and officials agreed to hold off on the tests. Bacteria counts didn't rise again until September.
Officials have theorized that droppings from the abundance of birds that flock to the area could be to blame.
Parks Director Pat Fagan said Friday he tends to believe that theory since the high bacteria counts are infrequent and come during the winter's extremely low tides.
When those tides rise again, the theory goes, they wash over droppings left on the exposed sand.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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