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Before the weekend vacation check beach bacteria conditions here

7 years 8 months 3 weeks ago Wednesday, June 29 2016 Jun 29, 2016 June 29, 2016 4:49 PM June 29, 2016 in News
Source: WBRZ

GULFPORT, Mississippi - Data available on the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality website indicates only one beach on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is flagged with an advisory due to probable high bacteria levels.

Scientists said the Gulfport Harbor Beach near Pratt Avenue is under a water contact advisory due to potentially high bacteria levels. The beach extends from 20th eastward to Thornton Avenue.

A man from Baton Rouge was hospitalized this week with flesh-eating bacteria after visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast, family members told WBRZ. WBRZ.com reported the details of the man's condition first in a story where family members asked for prayers and advised they created a website to help raise money for Dick Empson's medical bills.

"Uncle Dick is an amazingly strong man who is a cancer survivor twice! We know he has the heart of a warrior, a true fighter," a family member said.

Empson had to have a leg amputated after getting an infection. Family members said he became ill Sunday and had to go to the hospital Monday.

Many people from southeast Louisiana will travel to the Gulf Coast for the upcoming 4th of July extended weekend.

Click HERE for Mississippi beach monitoring or HERE for Louisiana beach monitoring.  Click HERE for beach data in Florida and HERE for data from Alabama beaches.  An interactive map of Texas beach information can be found HERE.

In May 2015, WBRZ visited with scientists who study water quality in Louisiana. Click HERE to review the previous story.

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