If you are yet to take your Gulf Coast beach vacation this summer, you might want to pick your preferred beach very carefully.

Several popular beaches in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas are currently under swimming advisories.

Health officials in those states are advising beach-goers not to go into the water due to high levels of harmful bacteria. Some of these bacteria represent those commonly found in sewage pollution and fecal mater.

These bacteria can cause disease, infections or rashes. And in some cases, contamination includes flesh-eating bacteria, which as we know can be deadly.

Health officials in Louisiana are advising that even though there isn't an advisory "the public should be aware that there is always a slight risk of bacterial contamination" and that they should "swim at their own risk."

The following links show the status of popular beaches in the states at risk.

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