GULF SHORES, Ala. — The Alabama Department of Public Health closed all shellfish growing waters in Baldwin County this week.

Bon Secour Bay was among the waterways that was closed due to the possibility of bacteriological contamination of the oyster beds. Mobile County waters — Dauphin Island Bay, Cedar Point, Portersville Bay, Grand Bay and Heron Bay — have also been closed, according to a release from the ADPH.

Runoff from the recent excessive rain alarmed the department. State Health Officer Dr. Donald Williamson closed harvesting at 3 p.m. on March 8. The beds remain closed.

Ron Dawsey, director of the division of food, milk and lodging for the ADPH, said runoff from surrounding shores can contaminate the waters with animal fecal matter.

“We have standards that are related to fecal coli form,” Dawsey said.

Those standards are set forth nationally to any state containing oyster beds. Dawsey said past testing has shown a lot of rain can lead to dangerous runoff so the department shuts the beds down as a precautionary measure. He said Tuesday they would be conducting testing this week to ensure the waters are safe to farm again.

A person who consumes contaminated shellfish could suffer symptoms resembling food poisoning.