Lee County Dept. of Health lifts Yacht Club Beach bacteria advisory

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County (DOH-Lee) has removed its advisory about high bacteria levels at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach. Tests completed Tuesday for Enterococcus bacteria in water samples taken Monday, April 23, showed levels under the maximum contaminant level.

An advisory had been declared for the Yacht Club Beach, which is located at 5819 Driftwood Parkway, Cape Coral, on Thursday, April 19, when high levels of Enterococcus bacteria had been found in the Caloosa-hatchee River.

Enterococcus bacteria normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. The presence of an elevated concentration of these bacteria is an indicator of pollution, which may come from storm water runoff, pets, wildlife or sewage.

Elevated levels of Enterococcus bacteria have been associated with an increased risk of swimming-associated gastroenteritis illness (diarrhea and abdominal pain).

For additional information about the advisory or the Enterococcus bacteria, please call (239) 274-2200.

For more information about the Florida Department of Health in Lee County, please visit Lee.FloridaHealth.gov.

For current beach conditions in Lee County, please visit the Florida Healthy Beaches website.