An 8-year-old boy has been attacked off the North Carolina coast by a shark, the fourth shark attack in the last two weeks.

The boy was standing in knee-deep water when he was attacked near Surf City, North Carolina. The boy suffered wounds on the lower leg, ankle and heel.

Officials with the city have decided not to warn visitors about the shark bite or tell swimmers to get out of the water.  They will increase beach patrols as they do not have an official lifeguarding staff.

“It really comes down to a joint decision on public safety officials, including myself,” Town Manager Larry Bergman said. He said he would have decided to close the beaches “if there was a big hazard, if there was an imminent danger.”

On June 11, a 13-year-old girl was bitten at Ocean Isle Beach.  Three days later, two attacks in 90 minutes took place at Oak Island, North Carolina. Both victims, aged 12 and 16, had to have limbs amputated following the attacks.

The Florida Museum of National History (FMNH) told the Christian Science Monitor that sharks usually attack lone swimmers so it’s best to stay in groups.  Also they said the scent of blood will draw them so do not go into the water with open cuts.

George Burgess of the FMNH wanted to remind people they have “a better chance of dying from a bee sting, a dog or snake bite, or lightning than from a shark attack.”