High bacteria levels prompts Suffolk to close beaches in Islip, Babylon, Huntington

Suffolk County health officials on Thursday said they have closed four beaches in three towns due to elevated levels of bacteria in the waters.

In Islip, both Bayport Beach and Sayville Marine Park Beach were closed as were Amityville Village Beach in Babylon and Valley Grove Beach in Huntington, because tests yielded more than acceptable levels of bacteria, according to a news release issued by the county’s Department of Health.

Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gregson Pigott said bathers could suffer from gastrointestinal illness and eye, ear, nose and throat infections. The beaches will reopen when bacteria levels subside.

For more information, officials urge residents to call the Bathing Beach HOTLINE at 631-852-5822  or contact the department's Office of Ecology at 631-852-5760 during normal business hours. Information is also available at http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/HealthServices/EnvironmentalQuality/Ecology/BeachMonitoringProgram.aspx.

Residents may view an interactive map of beach closures/advisories, at https://ny.healthinspections.us/ny_beaches/.