According to Texas health officials, higher levels of bacteria are present at several beaches in the Galveston area in the Gulf of Mexico. The officials have warned beachgoers regarding the alarming level of bacteria.

According to reports, experts are checking water quality on beaches throughout the state in order to keep track of bacteria levels in the water. According to officials, they have found high levels of Enterococci bacteria in 17 beaches in the Galveston area after weeks of heavy rains in Texas.

Enterococcus is a type of bacteria that is frequently found naturally in the intestinal tract of humans and animals. According to officials, at present, 23 beaches in Texas have high levels of the bacteria.

According to Brian Davis, chief of the Freeport Fire and EMS Department, extensive flooding that occurred earlier this month led to the overflow of septic tanks and waste treatment plants.

According to Davis, the bacteria can change Gulf water into almost toilet water. According to him, "The simple truth is that all of that is running down the river. It sounds bad to think of it like that".

As per Scott Packard, the public information officer for the Galveston Health Department, summer is a common time when bacteria appear.

According to him, people need to ensure that they have the information to reach some decision. As per Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, additional bacteria in the water can cause diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.