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Oneida Shores Beach in Onondaga County is closed until further notice due to high levels of E. coli. The Onondaga County Health Department ordered the closure after water tests on Monday (August 4) revealed E. coli levels exceeding the state safety standard of 235 colonies per 100 milliliters. The results, which take 18 to 24 hours to process, indicated contamination levels unsafe for public use, according to WSYR-TV.
This closure follows the recent shutdown of Jamesville Beach on August 1 due to algae blooms, leaving Green Lakes State Park as the largest open beach in the county. The Onondaga County Parks department announced the closure on social media, urging the public to check their website for updates. Syracuse.com reports that both beaches will remain closed until further notice.
E. coli can lead to serious health issues, including diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.