Some Volusia County beaches have high levels of bacteria which can make swimmers sick. An advisory issued Wednesday deemed the water at several beaches off Daytona Beach unfit to swim in.
Despite the advisory, supporters of our nation's veterans took a polar plunge in 65 degree waters Wednesday.
Not far away, seagulls and other birds are dropping waste along their migratory pattern, which cause unsafe levels of enterococci bacteria.
"I wouldn't let my son go in today," said concerned parent Jason Mahle.
"There's a bunch of bacteria in it. I wouldn't wanna jump in there cause you could get sick and all that," added his son, Owen Mahle.
Florida Health Department workers in Volusia County said that bacteria from the bird's droppings can cause gastrointestinal illness, upper respiratory infections, or skin infections if open wounds or sores exist.
As a result, health workers issued a swim advisory about those elevated bacteria levels at the Main Street, International Speedway Boulevard, Silver Beach Avenue and Seabreeze Boulevard approaches.
Beach Safety and Ocean Rescue Deputy Chief Scott Petersohn, said notices are posted at those approaches letting swimmers know about the elevated levels.
Advisories for those four areas have not been lifted. Petersohn said he has never heard of any health-related issues connected to the bacteria.
Health workers expect the high levels to go down within the next few days.
But the thousands of birds causing the problem will hang around a while longer.