The site is popular with tourists but is now sealed with fences, flags and warning signs
A beach popular with UK holidaymakers has closed again after mass bacteria levels were found in the water. The sunny spot popular with tourists has been fenced off from the public after being declared a no-swim zone.
Swimming has been banned by the local authorities after water samples were taken. La Pinta beach in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, has been shut since May 14. Adeje Town Hall has placed barriers on the seafront whilst the samples are reviewed.
Daily monitoring of the water detected signs of microbiological levels linked to enterococci bacteria. Exposure to contaminated water can lead to stomach illnesses as well as skin, eye and respiratory infections.
The beach is now covered with red flags, barriers and tape to deter holidaymakers from taking a swim. The picturesque spot usually features an inflatable assault course which is popular in the summer.
The beach will remain closed until the sample tests are cleared. Tourists were left fuming by the news.
One person said: “Again? This isn’t great.” Another added: “How sad.” One other person said: “Many tourists, many problems.”
One person said: “I was thinking yesterday, is the water clean? I had such a feeling.” Another person said: “It is at least good that it is tested to find these things out, but sad that something nasty was found.”
What is enterococci?
Enterococci are a large genus of lactic acid bacteria that can survive and grow whether oxygen is present or not. These bacteria are natural inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and other animals. In a healthy gut, they live harmoniously alongside other microbes and actually help maintain a balanced digestive system. They are also incredibly resilient organisms, capable of enduring extreme environments, high salt concentrations, and a wide range of temperatures.
While they are generally harmless in your gut, enterococci can turn into opportunistic pathogens if they escape the intestines and enter other parts of the body. This usually happens in hospital settings or in individuals with weakened immune systems. When they do cause trouble, they are notorious for triggering urinary tract infections (UTIs), blood stream infections (bacteremia), heart valve infections (endocarditis), and wound infections.
From a medical standpoint, two specific species cause the vast majority of human infections: Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. What makes enterococci particularly challenging for doctors is their natural resistance to many common antibiotics. Over the years, some strains have even developed resistance to vancomycin—one of the strongest antibiotics available—leading to a class of superbugs known as VRE (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci). Because they are tough to kill and spread easily on medical equipment and hands, hospitals enforce strict hygiene protocols to keep them in check.
