These 13 South Carolina Beaches Have Just Been Put On Advisory Due To Meningitis-Causing Fecal Bacteria

Each year, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control monitors the water quality along South Carolina's beaches from May 1st through October 1st and issues an advisory when high levels of bacteria are found at any point along the coast. On August 8th, several advisories were issued along the Grand Strand for very small portions of some of the most crowded beaches.

In most cases, the warnings were issued because the enterococci bacteria levels exceeded an acceptable amount. Enterococcus is a bacteria that's found in the gut of humans and passed out of the body in fecal matter (fecal bacteria). At worst case, if the enterococci bacteria enter the body through an open wound or are swallowed, then a person can develop serious life-threatening infections including, sepsis, endocartis, and meningitis.

There's no need to skip your day at the beach entirely because the areas where advisories were issued are small swaths along the coast, usually where many of the washouts (spots where water from runoff and too much rain push the overflow over the sand and into the ocean) are located. Also of note: the locations with warnings are areas with long-term issues with high bacteria levels. So it's good to familiarize yourself with the following list as it seems these spots are repeat offenders.

Starting with the North Carolina state line and moving down the coast, here are the current beach locations where current warnings are in place: (Note, the name of the location is taken from the information obtained from the advisory map provided by SCDHEC)

Briarcliff Acres: the spot known as Whitepoint Swash has been issued an advisory and has had high enterococcus levels 15-20% of the time for the last 5 years.

Arcadia - HC: the wash known as Bear Branch Swash has been issued an advisory and has had high enterococcus levels 20-25% of the time for the last 5 years.

Myrtle Beach: the wash known as Cane Patch Swash has been issued an advisory and has had high enterococcus levels 15-20% of the time for the last 5 years.

Myrtle Beach: 6th Avenue North Myrtle Beach has been issued an advisory and has had high enterococcus levels less than 10% of the time for the last 5 years.

Myrtle Beach: 34th Avenue North Myrtle Beach has been issued an advisory and has had high enterococcus levels less than 10% of the time for the last 5 years.

Myrtle Beach: 24th Avenue North Myrtle Beach has been issued an advisory and has had high enterococcus levels 15-20% of the time for the last 5 years.

Myrtle Beach: 8th Avenue North Myrtle Beach has been issued an advisory and has had high enterococcus levels 10-15% of the time for the last 5 years.

Myrtle Beach: the spot known as Withers Swash has been issued an advisory and has had high enterococcus levels 25-30% of the time for the last 5 years.

Myrtle Beach: the spot known as Midway Swash has been issued an advisory and has had high enterococcus levels 20-25% of the time for the last 5 years.

Myrtle Beach (south of Myrtle Beach State Park): the spot known as Beaver Dam Creek Swash has been issued an advisory and has had high enterococcus levels 20-25% of the time for the last 5 years.

Myrtle Beach (at Ocean Lakes Campground): two small locations at this location have been issued an advisory and have had high enterococcus levels 10-15% of the time for the last 5 years. There's no cause for alarm when swimming here, just avoid swimming in the areas with warning signs posted.

Surfside Beach: the Swash at 5th Avenue North has been issued an advisory and has had high enterococcus levels 20-25% of the time for the last 5 years.

Surfside Beach: 13th Avenue South has been issued an advisory and has had high enterococcus levels 10-15% of the time for the last 5 years.

Moving further down the coast of South Carolina, no advisories are in place at this time for any beach locations in South Carolina that are south of Surfside Beach at 13th Avenue.

Want to stay up to date on the most recent beach advisories issued by SCDHEC? Visit this link and select a beach to zoom in. Look for yellow or red markers along the coast and select one to see the date and the reason the advisory was issued.