Se advierte a los bañistas de que no se metan en el agua después de que 50 playas de Massachusetts hayan dado positivo por altos niveles de la bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli), comúnmente presente en las heces humanas, de acuerdo a lo anunciado por el Departamento de Salud Pública de Massachusetts.
Por lo general, la bacteria E. coli vive en los intestinos de las personas y de los animales sanos. La mayoría de las variedades de Escherichia coli son inofensivas o causan diarrea breve. Sin embargo, algunas cepas, como la Escherichia coli O157:H7, pueden causar cólicos abdominales intensos, diarrea con sangre y vómitos.
El codirector estatal de Clean Water Action, Maureo Fernández Y Mora, dijo que hay soluciones a largo y corto plazo para el problema que, según advierten las autoridades, puede provocar enfermedades.
“Cuando llueve, las aguas residuales se desbordan y llegan a las fuentes de agua”, dijo Y Mora. “Tenemos que hacer frente al cambio climático para reducir los patrones meteorológicos que provocan la entrada de las aguas residuales, como los barriles de lluvia, que reducen la cantidad de pluviosidad que provoca las inundaciones”.
Los signos y síntomas de la infección por E. coli O157:H7 suelen aparecer tres o cuatro días después de la exposición a la bacteria. Pero puedes enfermarte al día siguiente de haber estado expuesto, o más de una semana después. Los signos y síntomas incluyen los siguientes:
- Diarrea, que puede ser variar entre leve y líquida y grave con sangre
- Calambres estomacales, dolor o sensibilidad en el estómago
- Náuseas y vómitos en algunas personas
Para reducir la probabilidad de estar expuesto a la bacteria E. coli, se recomienda a las personas evitar tragar agua de fuentes contaminadas, playas, lagos o piscinas, lavarse las manos con frecuencia, y mantener la higiene de los alimentos a consumir, entre otras medidas.
Después de que el estado anunciara que se había encontrado una peligrosa cantidad de excrementos humanos en docenas de playas locales, se ha advertido a los bañistas que se mantengan fuera del agua o correrán el riesgo de enfermar.
Aquí puede consultar la lista de playas con advertencia de la bacteria E. coli:
| Municipality | Beach | Beach Type | Posting Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agawam | Robinson Pond Beach (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Ashby | Damon Pond Beach (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Ashland | Hopkinton Reservoir – Upper Beach (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Athol | Ellis Beach | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Beverly | Brackenbury | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Beverly | Dane Street – Bathhouse | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Beverly | Mingo | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Beverly | Obear Park | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Beverly | Woodbury | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Boston | Constitution Beach (DCR) | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Boston | Malibu Beach (DCR) | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Boston | Savin Hill Beach (DCR) | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Boston | Tenean Beach (DCR) | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Brookfield | South Pond | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Charlemont | Cold River Pool (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Chatham | Bucks Creek | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Clarksburg | Mauserts Pond (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Concord | Silver Hill Association | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Dennis | Clipper Lane | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Dennis | Follins Pond | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Duxbury | Landing Road | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Duxbury | West End | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Falmouth | Old Silver – Public Beach North | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Framingham | Learned Pond Beach | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Framingham | Waushakum Beach | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Gardner | Dunn Pond (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Hingham | Martin’s Cove | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Hingham | North Beach | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Lynn | Kings Beach (DCR) | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Lynn | Lynn Beach (DCR) | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Marshfield | Green Harbor | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Mashpee | Mashpee Shores Assoc. | Freshwater | Algae/Cyanobacteria Advisory |
| Mashpee | Santuit Pond – Bryants Neck | Freshwater | Algae/Cyanobacteria Advisory |
| Mashpee | Santuit Pond Estate Assoc. | Freshwater | Algae/Cyanobacteria Advisory |
| Mashpee | Santuit Pond – Town Landing | Freshwater | Algae/Cyanobacteria Advisory |
| Mashpee | Trustees of the Reservation (Mashpee Pond) | Freshwater | Algae/Cyanobacteria Advisory |
| Mashpee | Trustees of the Reservation (Wakeby Pond) | Freshwater | Algae/Cyanobacteria Advisory |
| Mashpee | Wakeby-Attaquin | Freshwater | Algae/Cyanobacteria Advisory |
| Mashpee | Wakeby Pond – Camp Farley | Freshwater | Algae/Cyanobacteria Advisory |
| Milton | Houghton’s Pond @ Bathhouse (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Monterey | Benedict Pond Beach (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Nahant | Black Rock | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Nahant | Nahant Beach (DCR) | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Nantucket | Miacomet Pond | Freshwater | Algae/Cyanobacteria Advisory |
| Quincy | Chikatawbot | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Quincy | Germantown Firestation | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Quincy | Wollaston Beach (DCR) | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Revere | Revere Beach (DCR) | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Revere | Short Beach (DCR) | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Salem | Ocean Avenue | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Salem | Steps | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Salem | Willow Avenue | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Saugus | Pearce Lake @ Breakheart Reservation (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Southwick | South Pond Beach | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Sturbridge | Walker Pond – Main Beach | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Swampscott | Kings Beach | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Templeton | Beaman’s Pond – Campground (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Templeton | Beaman’s Pond – Day Use Beach (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Tisbury | Hilman’s Point | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Townsend | Pearl Hill Pond (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Wareham | Forbes | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Wareham | Swift’s | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Westminster | Crow Hill Pond Beach (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Winchendon | Lake Dennison – North Camp Beach (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Winchester | Shannon Beach @ Upper Mystic (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Winthrop | Donovans | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Winthrop | Halford | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Winthrop | Pico | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Winthrop | Winthrop Beach (DCR) | Marine | Bacterial Exceedance |
| Worcester | Lake Quinsigamond – Regatta Point (DCR) | Freshwater | Bacterial Exceedance |
