High levels of possible illness-causing bacteria have spread to 6 MS Coast beaches

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued six water contact advisories this week after tests found high bacteria levels at South Mississippi beaches.

The bacteria are common across the Mississippi Coast and first returned this week to two locations:

• Biloxi East Central Beach, which extends from St. Peter Street to Dukate Street.
• Long Beach Beach, between Oak Gardens and Girard avenues.

On Friday, the state expanded the advisory, adding the following beaches:

• Pass Christian East Beach, which extends from Espy Avenue to Hayden Avenue
• Pass Christian Central Beach, between Henderson Avenue and Heirn Avenue
• Pass Christian West Beach, approximately between Fort Henry Avenue and Elliot Street
• Bay St. Louis Beach, which extends from Box Culvert to Ballantine Street

The beaches are still open. But the Department of Environmental Quality issues advisories as a precaution to warn beachgoers that swimming could increase the risk of illness. The advisories are often triggered by faulty septic tanks or sewers that leak through the stormwater system and into the Mississippi Sound.

The Department of Environmental Quality tests every beach weekly for the bacteria, which are called Enterococcus and can indicate the possibility that sewage is contaminating the water.

The agency’s tests do not track a separate and rare bacterium called Vibrio, which naturally lives in coastal waters and can cause serious infections. Enterococcus is not usually harmful to humans, but scientists use it to indicate possible pollution.

Scientists at the Department of Environmental Quality test beaches under advisory every day until Enterococcus bacteria levels return to normal. The agency also has a standing advisory against swimming after heavy rain because runoff from drains south of the railroad tracks inevitably washes pollutants into the waves.

Tests this week showed bacteria levels are normal at all other beaches across the Mississippi Coast.

This story was originally published February 22, 2026 at 6:41 AM.