Wenham Police Department reports that Pleasant Pond Beach is closed until further notice due to high levels of E. coli.
On Thursday, July 11 the Town of Wenham was notified by Biomarine Laboratories that testing samples from Pleasant Pond Beach, collected on Wednesday, July 10, exceeded the standard bacteria level. At this time the beach will remain closed to all recreational activities including swimming, boating, fishing, and walking. Recreational vehicles are not allowed on the beach.
E. coli is a sub-group of the fecal coliform bacteria group. There are many strains of E. coli, most of which are harmless, but some strains can cause illness. Symptoms of E. coli sickness can include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. These symptoms may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. These symptoms, however, are not just associated with water-borne illness; they may also come from other diseases. If you are ill with these symptoms, please contact your healthcare provider.
More updates will be made when the information becomes available.