SIX beaches in Malaga closed after unsafe levels of E. coli bacteria were found in the water.

Tourists were warned not to swim in the sea as the water had been contaminated by raw sewage.

People in the water and on the sand at a beach during Noche de San Juan.Playa San Andres is one of six beaches closed across Malaga Credit: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images People on a crowded beach in Spain during a heatwave.Sacaba is another popular beach in Malaga which has been shut Credit: AFP via Getty Images

The affected beaches are located across the city’s coastline, from the western area near Malaga airport to El Palo in the east.

The six closed beaches are Campo de Golf-San Julian, Guadalmar, La Misericordia, Sacaba, San Andres and El Palo.

A lifeguard holding a red flag in the sea at a busy beach.Red flags hoisted across Benalmádena due to mysterious skin reactions Credit: SOLARPIX.COM Red warning flag on an empty sandy beach with waves in the background.Some beaches remain closed whilst further tests are carried out Credit: Santiago Urquijo

Four beaches that closed after the storm were briefly reopened, before new water tests forced them to shut again.

The closures were due to heavy storms on August 15, which caused drainage and sewage systems to flood.

Municipal water company Emasa found bacteria levels above Spain’s legal safety limit in samples taken on August 16.

Malaga authorities have not said when the beaches will reopen but are carrying out further tests.

This comes after four top beaches in Benalmádena were closed on August 16 due to swimmers suffering mysterious skin reactions.

However, according to reports by Sur , the Andalusian regional government has confirmed that the cases are not related and the closure of Benalmádena’s beaches is not E. coli.

The cause of the skin reactions suffered by bathers is still unclear.

Malaga University marine biologist Elena Bañares believes the skin reactions are of a “chemical nature” not due to biological factors.

She believes allergic reactions are “unlikely” due to 20 people suffering reactions in such a short amount of time.

The Andalusian regional government has stated that there has been no record of any spill in the area that would suggest a chemical cause.

Two beaches, Santa Ana and Las Gaviotas, remain closed but he regional ministry of health described the ban as a “precautionary measure”.

Three other popular beaches, Bil-Bil, Arroyo de la Miel and Los Melilleros, have been reopened to the public.

Everything you need to know about Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)

THE most common type of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in the UK is O157.

Symptoms

People infected with STEC can have a combination of the following symptoms:

  • diarrhoea (about 50 per cent of cases have bloody diarrhoea)
  • stomach cramps
  • fever

Some people may have mild diarrhoea, or even no symptoms at all.

Symptoms can last up to two weeks in cases without complications.

A small proportion of patients, mainly children, may develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) which is a serious life-threatening condition resulting in kidney failure.

And a small proportion of adults may develop a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP).

How it’s transmitted

Cattle are the most important reservoir of STEC O157 in the UK, although STEC have also been found in the faeces of a range of animals, including deer, rabbits, horses, pigs and wild birds.

People can become infected by:

  • eating contaminated food
  • contact with infected animals either directly or through inadvertent contact with animal faeces, for example at farms, petting farms and campsites
  • contact with other people who have the illness (through inadequate hand hygiene after using the toilet, before food handling – particularly in households, nurseries and infant schools, or both
  • drinking water from inadequately treated water supplies
  • swimming or playing in contaminated water such as ponds or streams

How to avoid getting it

Good hygiene practices relating to food and drink, and animals and their environment can hep you avoid getting infected.

You must:

  • cook all minced meat products (burgers, meatloaf, meat balls) thoroughly, until the colour is the same all the way through, and no blood runs from them
  • ensure refrigerators are working correctly – bacteria grow more quickly at temperatures over 4oC
  • only leave cooked foods, meat and dairy products out at room temperature for a short time
  • store uncooked meats below cooked meats and salad vegetables to avoid dripping juices onto ready to eat food
  • store uncooked and cooked meats on different plates, avoid all contact between raw and cooked meats
  • thoroughly wash all salad vegetables and do not prepare them with utensils that have also been used for raw meat
  • children and the elderly who are particularly susceptible to the severe effects of STEC should avoid eating or drinking unpasteurised dairy products
  • people who have been ill should not prepare food for others for at least 48 hours after they have recovered
  • boil any drinking water if you are unsure of it’s source
  • do not swim in water that you think may be contaminated by cattle and sheep in nearby fields
  • wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet (or helping others including changing nappies), handling raw meat, before meals and after contact with animals

How to treat STEC

There is no specific treatment for STEC infection. The illness is usually self-limiting, and will clear itself within a week.

It’s important to drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea can lead to dehydration.

Antibiotics are not recommended and are likely to increase the risk of getting complications such as HUS.

Also, stay away from work or school until 48 hours after you’ve stopped vomiting or having diarrhoea.

Source: UK Health Security Agency