BRIDGTON (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- Woods Pond Beach in the town of Bridgton is closed until further notice after a number of people became sick after swimming there.
Late Friday afternoon, the town of Bridgton received a phone call from the Maine Center for Disease Control. The CDC reported to the town that at least 18 people became ill with "abdominal issues" after swimming in Woods Pond between July 2 and July 6, according to a post on the town's Facebook page. The town closed the beach immediately.
Earlier Saturday, a doctor at Bridgton Hospital told the town there have been zero confirmed cases of E. coli.
Kelly Margolis is the President of the Woods Pond Water Quality Association. She says in her 14 years living on this pond there has never been a water quality problem. She's glad the town is testing the water and hopes to learn something concrete. Margolis says "there was a lot of people using it. I don't really have any idea if there was something in the water."
Gabe Hartnett helps deliver lunches to kids as part of the town's summer-time free lunch program. Monday there were no kids at the beach to feed. Hartnett says "Usually there are tons of people here swimming and having fun. It's sad to see it so empty."
Officials hope to have the results of the testing back Tuesday morning. They will post the results on the town's website and Facebook page.
Meanwhile, officials are asking people to use Highland Lake Beach, Sabatis Island, and Salmon Point.