Benjamin's Beach in Bay Shore, Ronkonkoma Beach in Islip Town closed to swimming due to high bacteria levels

Swimming was prohibited Thursday at Benjamin's Beach in Bay Shore and Ronkonkoma Beach in the Town of Islip due to high levels of bacteria, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services said in a release.

The beaches will reopen when, health officials said, "further testing reveals that the bacteria have subsided to acceptable levels."

Bathing in bacteria-contaminated water can result in gastrointestinal illness, as well as infections of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat, according to Suffolk County Commissioner of Health Dr. Gregson Pigott.

For up-to-date information on affected beaches, visitors are advised to call the Bathing Beach hotline at 631-852-5822 or contact the heath services department's Office of Ecology at 631-852-5760 during normal business hours.