Fourteen children and adults have been diagnosed with E. coli after spending time at a Lake Wildwood beach in Nevada County, according to the county’s public health department.
Of the 14 cases, 11 children and three adults were infected at Commodor Beach. .
In addition, four children developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a potentially life-threatening condition with anemia and kidney complications, health department officials said.
Commodor Beach as well as four other public beaches at Lake Wildwood were shut down on July 28, five days after the last known date of exposure to E. coli.
Prior to that, the Nevada County Health Department issued an advisory for people swimming at the lake after five people reportedly contracted E. coli from the beach area.
All public beaches will remain closed until contamination levels in the lake water have dropped to a safe level and until three E. coli incubation periods have passed since the last known case of exposure.
The Environmental Health Department continues to test the water at Lake Wildwood twice a week at eight different points near Commodore, Meadow Park and Hideaway Park beaches.
Results from Monday’s samples warrant continued beach closures after results at seven of the sites near the three beaches indicated elevated levels of fecal coliforms, with the highest levels being measures at Meadow Park, according to health officials.
A sources for the contamination has not been determined, but officials have already tested the wastewater system and the canals along Deer Creek. There is additional testing of wildlife feces, sand and other tributary points in order to determine the origin of the bacteria.