No swiming advisories posted for Florida beaches

The beaches in Walton County are County Park (Miramar) Beach and Blue Mountain Beach.

The Florida Department of Health says most Panhandle beaches are safe for swimming except six in Okaloosa County and two in Walton County.

The Florida Department of Health does issue water quality advisories, but they are common and have not included any mention of “flesh-eating bacteria”.

The Florida Department of Public Health has issued a health advisory for some Florida panhandle beaches.

Florida beaches are known for their beauty, but this holiday weekend some beach go-ers will have to stay out of the water because of poo.

Atlanta’s WSB has walked back an alarming report of “flesh-eating bacteria” that threatened to impact swimming over the Fourth of July holiday.

The no-swim advisors are because of enterococci, an enteric bacteria, which normally is found in the intestinal tract of humans and animals. The greatest risk is for very young children, the elderly and people who have compromised immune systems since their ability to fight off infection is limited by age or disease.

According to a letter from the Florida Department of Health, the risk is minimal but the bacteria has the potential to causes rashes, sore throats, mild diarrhea or inflammation.

The National Weather Service in Mobile said today that they do not issue swim advisories and such reports are false. When re-sampling indicates that the water is within the satisfactory range, the advisory will be lifted.