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PR-12/31/03: San Mateo County Beach Warning

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 31, 2003 San Mateo County Health Services Agency Contact: Dean Peterson(650) 363-4968 SAN MATEO COUNTY BEACH WARNING San Mateo, CA-- San Mateo County Health Services Agency issued an advisory today about bay and ocean beaches. The areas currently affected include the bay waters of San Mateo County and all ocean beaches from the City and County of San Francisco south to the Santa Cruz County line. San Mateo County has approximately 55 miles of ocean coastline and nearly 20 miles of bay shoreline. Working with the volunteers from the Surfrider Foundation, Environmental Health staff have been sampling numerous sites for bacterial contamination along both the ocean and bay since the mid 1960’s. The water is tested for total and fecal coliforms. Coliforms are a group of bacteria that inhabit the intestinal tracts of humans and animals. When they are found in water, they indicate the potential presence of many organisms known to cause disease in humans. A complete list of beach sites recently tested and found to be contaminated can be found at the San Mateo County Environmental Health website at http://www.SMHealth.org/environ, and go to "hot topics" or call the beach closure hotline at 650-599-1266. Dr. Scott Morrow, San Mateo County Health Officer, said: "I recommend that people avoid all ocean and bay recreational water contact at this time. The water is highly contaminated and likely to cause illness. Anyone becoming ill after contact with these waters should consult their physician." ###