Capitola Beach is closed after an E. coli O157 outbreak sickened at least nine children and left investigators racing to find the source of the bacteria in the water where Soquel Creek meets Monterey Bay.
Four of the sickened children live in Santa Cruz County; the other five are from other Bay Area counties. Every case is tied to likely exposure at Capitola Beach or the surrounding waterways.
Water samples have been collected at four locations, including an upstream site near Nob Hill, the jetty, Soquel Creek Lagoon and the flume where water flows into the bay. The bacteria's origin remains unidentified.
The beach is a manicured stretch of sand at the creek mouth, backed by pastel cottages and waterfront cafes. The shops and restaurants along the Esplanade remain open, but all contact with ocean, creek and lagoon water is off-limits for visitors and their pets.
E. coli O157 can cause severe illness, and young children face the highest risk of serious complications. Rain-driven runoff carrying animal waste into creeks is one of the most common pathways for the bacteria to reach swimming water.
Whether the closure holds depends on repeat testing clearing the water, and the affected children's recoveries are the outcome that matters most.