BREVARD COUNTY, Fla.,None — Memorial Day weekend is always busy for Brevard County beaches, according to officials. However, some people are staying out of the water because bacteria was found near the Cocoa Beach pier. Officials have put that problem to rest and have encountered another problem.
Cannonball jellyfish are washing ashore up and down the coast and they sting.
Any beach-goers that wants an early start Friday to their holiday weekend, may be stuck in the sand and staying clear of the water.
"The waves look pretty good but nobody's in the water," said a surfer.
While some children thought they might make a good souvenir, their stingers are making swimmers nervous.
"I just don't want to get stung by a jellyfish," said a swimmer.
The wave of jellyfish comes on the heels of higher than normal bacteria levels in water samples taken near the Cocoa Beach pier and Jetty Park.
Health officials said there are potentially dangerous levels of enterococcus bacteria in the water. It's a microorganism linked to human and animal waste that can make swimmers sick.
A second test sample taken within 24 hours showed levels were back to being minimal.
Health officials told WFTV the short spike in bacteria appeared in the area where speed boat races were held last weekend and may be linked to higher concentrations of people in the water.
"I'm more afraid of the jellyfish than report of bacteria," said a beach-goer.
Whether the jellyfish stick around through the entire weekend, all depends on the currents and the winds.
WFTV
