Bacteria high at Sanibel beach
BY MICHELLE L. START Florida Weekly Correspondent

Almost one year after Sanibel's Bowman's beach was closed because of high levels of Enterococcus bacteria, another advisory has been issued.

Tests completed on Sept. 27 indicated that there was a high level of the bacteria, which comes from intestinal tract of humans and animals.

"Although no solid scientific evidence, from around the state since the program has been started, relates higher bacteria levels with rainfall, it does seem to coincide with heavier than normal rainfall periods," said Mark Ashton, an engineer specialist for the Lee County Health Department. "After averaging less than normal rainfall for the summer the recent rainfall recordings for the week, for the area, were in the 4-5 inch range."

Officials believe the bacteria may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, or sewage.

An advisory was issued because high levels of Enterococcus bacteria have been linked to swimming-associated gastroenteritis illnesses like diarrhea and abdominal pain. A gastroenteritis illness rate between 2 percent to 4 percent is possible with an elevated enterococcus concentration.

When the enterococcus concentration meets EPA's recommended criteria, the gastroenteritis illness rate is expected to be less than 2 percent, and is considered acceptable.

Bowman's beach was also put on advisory status twice in September of last year because of elevated levels of the bacteria.

"Bowman's beach did have an advisory last year at this time, however historically it is not any more susceptible than the other areas," Ashton said. "Out of 18 advisories issued since 2003 only two have been at Bowman's beach."

While an advisory wasn't issued specifically for Bowman's beach, visitors illegally harvesting shellfish were also sickened on Sanibel in July 2006. In total, 11 people were taken to area hospitals after ingesting clams they picked up in the area during a red tide infestation. Some were so ill that they were admitted to the intensive care units and the neurotoxic outbreak was deemed an epidemic.

"This is the unseen, unspoken and unpopular side of red tide," Lee County Health Department director Dr. Judith Hartner said at the time. "Even when the algae is in very low concentrations, it can still contaminate the shellfish, which concentrate the toxins in their bodies. People then consume a high dose."

As the red tide blooms approach coastal areas, the breaking waves can cause the toxin to become mixed with sea spray. People in the coastal areas experiencing red tide blooms can experience varying degrees of eye, nose, and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms. When a person leaves the red tide area, the symptoms usually go away. People with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic lung disease are cautioned to avoid red tide areas.

Shellfish like the bivalve mollusks; clams, oysters, and coquinas that are harvested from red tide areas should not be eaten. These molluskan shellfish are filter feeders that can filter large amounts of the red tide algae from the water and concentrate the toxin producing algae in their gut. Other seafood also commonly called shellfish such as crabs, shrimp, and lobster can be eaten because they do not filter water and will not concentrate the toxin. Scallops can be eaten if only the scallop's muscle is eaten, as is normally the case. Scallop stew, which would use the whole animal, should not be eaten.