Officials Close More U.S. Beaches Ahead of Labor Day Amid Bacterial Contamination
At least 100 beaches across seven states under closures or advisories as officials warn of illness and rare life‑threatening infections
State and local officials across the United States have closed or issued advisories for more than 100 beaches as potentially deadly bacterial blooms contaminate coastal waters ahead of the Labor Day weekend, public notices show.
Advisories and closures affecting mainly East Coast shorelines have been posted throughout the week, with more added as monitoring continues. Thousands of Americans expected to visit beaches for one last summer weekend were being urged to exercise caution and to check local health notices before entering the water.
At least 100 beaches in seven states have been closed or placed under advisories, according to local postings and public notices. Among the affected sites are Keyes Memorial Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Benjamin's Beach on Long Island, New York. Officials also reported warnings at multiple beaches around Los Angeles, California, and at least one on Hawaii.
Public health notices warn people to stay out of affected waters because swallowing the water or exposing an open cut can lead to stomach illness, rashes or nausea, and in rare cases, life‑threatening infections. Notices and county health departments have emphasized that the risk increases when water is ingested or enters broken skin.
The precise cause of the surge in bacterial populations has not been established. Officials and health experts cited in local statements have tied recent blooms to environmental conditions, including heavy rainfall that can wash sewage, animal waste or fertilizer from farms and urban areas into waterways, creating conditions that allow bacteria to multiply rapidly.
Monitoring and testing by state and local health agencies have prompted closures and advisories as officials await laboratory results and track changes in water quality. Counties and municipalities typically issue advisories based on bacterial counts exceeding public‑health thresholds or when unusual conditions are observed.
Health departments have encouraged beachgoers to heed posted closures and advisories, avoid swallowing seawater, keep children and pets out of affected surf zones, and seek medical attention if they develop symptoms after contact with contaminated water. Officials also advised the public to consult local health department websites or municipal beach pages for the latest closures and water‑quality information.
As testing continues and more advisory postings are evaluated, officials said beaches will be reopened when water‑quality measurements return to levels deemed safe by public‑health authorities. State and local agencies emphasized ongoing monitoring through the holiday weekend and urged members of the public to remain vigilant about posted warnings.