Hillsborough County issued health advisories Wednesday for beaches at Picnic Island and Cypress Point due to bacteria.

This should be considered a potential risk to the bathing public, the county said.

Samples the county took Monday were above threshold established by the Environmental Protection Agency for enterococci bacteria. The beach will be re-sampled Aug. 20 and when re-sampling indicates water quality is satisfactory, the advisory will be lifted.

Enterococci bacteria are normally in intestinal tracts of humans and animals, and might cause human disease, infections or rashes. The presence of the bacteria indicates fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage.

Beachgoers can go to the state Department of Health's Internet Beach Water Quality website http://www.floridashealth.com/beachwater to find more information on beaches.

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Bacteria levels close beaches at Picnic Island, Cypress Point