Bacteria Scare Closes 2 Long Island Beaches: SC Health Dept.

SAYVILLE-BAYPORT, NY — Two beaches in the Town of Islip are closed for swimming after the Suffolk County Health Department issued an advisory on Friday.

Sayville Marina Park in Sayville and Bayport Beach in Bayport were closed "due to the finding of bacteria at levels in excess of acceptable criteria," the health department said.

The beaches will reopen when further testing reveals that the bacteria have subsided to acceptable levels.

"Bathing in bacteria-contaminated water can result in gastrointestinal illness, as well as infections of the eyes, ears, nose and throat," Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gregson Pigott said.

Islip officials said anyone interested in the latest information on affected beaches may call the Bathing Beach HOTLINE at 631-852-5822 or contact the Department's Office of Ecology at 631-852-5760 during normal business hours.

The closures comes on the heals of other beach closures in Suffolk County, also due to unsafe levels of bacteria.

At the end of May, Patch reported on the reopening of 63 Long Island beaches that had also closed to swimming due to high levels of bacteria following heavy rains.

In early June, Patch reported that the Department of Health issued an advisory closing Venetian Shores Beach in Lindenhurst, Tanner Park Beach in Copiague and 55 beaches around Suffolk County.