Wave of popular beaches across East Coast state are abruptly shut down after grim discovery
More than 30 beaches were forces to close down on Saturday in Massachusetts due to an excessive amount of bacteria in the water, making it a hazard for swimmers to beat the heat.
The closures span across the entire state from West Stockbridge to Boston and the Cape, according to the state's dashboard.
Most were shut down due to bacterial exceedance or a harmful cyanobacteria bloom, with 29 alone due to bacteria.
'If a beach is closed, do not swim or enter the water at that location to avoid risk of illness,' the dashboard said.
The state monitors around 1,100 public and semi-public beaches, according to Mass Live.
Despite not being able to swim, beachgoers can still enjoy the sandy oasis, as long as they don't step foot in the water.
More than 30 beaches were forces to close down on Saturday in Massachusetts due to an excessive amount of bacteria in the water, making it a hazard for swimmers to beat the heat
The closures span across the entire state from West Stockbridge to Boston and the Cape (pictured: Cape Cod Beach)
Those who risk swimming could end up with stomach and intestinal upset, diarrhea, and vomiting, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Many water-borne germs originate from human and animal feces, so the NIH recommends people avoid using the restroom in the water and to keep child and animal fecal matter away too.
Algae can also infect the water.
'If there are concerns with either the bacteria or other hazards, focus on other activities to do,' University of South Carolina's Dr. Dwayne Porter told NIH.
Dangerous bacteria can also lead to lethal sepsis, coma, limb amputation and death in worst-case scenarios.
Most were shut down due to bacterial exceedance or a harmful cyanobacteria bloom, with 29 alone due to bacteria (pictured: Clarksburg Lake)
Those who risk swimming could end up with stomach and intestinal upset, diarrhea, and vomiting (Pictured: Rutland Beach)
Dangerous bacteria can also lead to lethal sepsis, coma, limb amputation and death in worst-case scenarios. (Pictured: stock image of Cyanobacteria in water)
For instance, the deadly flesh-eating vibrio vulnificus bacteria has, over the past year, been detected at beaches up and down the Eastern seaboard; off the coast of Long Island, in Connecticut, at beaches and shellfish restaurants in Florida, and more.
This is because the rise of global temperatures, which raise water temperatures, has created a more hospitable environment for harmful bacteria, like vibrio and Staphylococcus aureus, allowing them to survive for longer periods of time in places they’ve never lived before.
Massachusetts is just the latest state to experience higher levels of bacteria that have led to widespread closures of its beaches.
Earlier this week, several beaches in San Diego County were shuttered for the very same reason.
And just last week, more than 100 beaches across the entirety of the United States closed down as well.
In addition to California, the affected areas included coastline in Michigan and New York.
