Vancouver Coastal Health has issued an advisory for Ambleside Beach. The beach is not suitable for swimming due to high E.coli levels.
A mean of five samples that is over 200 E.coli\100 mL or a single sample that shows level of E.coli 400\100 mL is considered to be high for swimming and other sports such as surfing, paddle boarding, anything in which the whole body is immersed and water is likely to be swallowed.
Bacteria counts at Ambleside Beach have been recorded at 1178 E.coli/100mL, and 464 E.coli/100mL, prompting the advisory. High counts of E. coli in recreational water may increase the chances of gastrointestinal illnesses and skin and eye infections.
Early this week, Deep Cove beach was declared not suitable for swimming due to high E.coli levels. At present, Snug Cove, Sunset Beach, and Trout Lake are other Metro Vancouver beaches that are not suitable for swimming.
High counts of E.coli on beaches may increase the chances of gastrointestinal, upper respiratory illnesses, and skin or eye infection. The main symptoms of an E.coli infection are bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, but VCH says it is not a given that you will get sick if you go into water that is under advisory.
But anytime you are getting into water with high E.coli, you are increasing your chances of getting sick, especially if you swallow water or get water in the nose, eyes, ears or an open wound.
Examples of possible illness include stomach upset, ear infection, sore throat, or wound infection.
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