Needles, medical waste close Delaware beaches, ocean access

Medical waste such as needles have been found washed up on the beaches of a few East Coast states including Delaware. (Photo by Video131/Shutterstock)

Delawareans hoping to get one last taste of the ocean this summer have to avoid three state beaches to do so.

Officials from Dewey Beach, Fenwick Island and Rehoboth Beach have announced that swimming is temporarily off limits due to “discovery of medical waste” that has washed up on the beaches.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the ocean has been temporarily closed for swimming until further notice,” Dewey Beach officials said in a statement on social media. “We will update our community as the situation progresses.”

The Town of Fenwick Island stated in a Facebook post to “please be aware of your surroundings and wear shoes as the waste includes needles.”

Beaches in Maryland and Virginia are closed for the same reason, and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is investigating the source of the medical waste.

Rehoboth Beach also closed water access Monday due to rough surf conditions, but the beach itself will be open.

The Rehoboth Beach Patrol and city staff will also monitor the beach throughout the day for any signs of medical waste.

The city received one report from a visitor Sunday night of a syringe being seen at the water line, but city staff have found no evidence of such waste so far and no additional reports have been received.

Monday morning, officials from Rehoboth Beach said “after surveying the beach this morning, the City of Rehoboth Beach has found two exposed syringes, that is syringes with hypodermic needles, along the beach.”

One was found north of Queen Street and the other near Pennsylvania Avenue. Several pieces of pill bottles and caps to medicine bottles also were found.

Beach visitors are advised to wear closed-toe shoes on the beach.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.