Bacteria in Rio’s bay

A study of waters in Guanabara Bay at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, found high levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The bacteria was discovered in areas that will host Olympic sailing and swimming events in 2016.

About 48% of Rio’s sewage flows, untreated, into the bay, often necessitating beach closures due to unsafe swimming conditions. Rio officials had planned to reduce the amount of sewage flowing into the bay by 80% before the start of the Olympics but admitted, in January, that they would be unable to meet that goal.

On Feb. 26, pollution inspectors testing the water found thousands of dead fish floating in the bay. Tests are being run to find the cause.