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Red Tide Bloom Spotted in Lee County

Image courtesy of P. Schmidt, Charlotte Sun.
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https://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County sent an advisory on Monday notifying the public of a red tide bloom near Bonita Beach Park at the south end of Little Hickory Island.

Red tideis a naturally occurring toxic algae. According to state health officials, coming into contact with a red tide bloom, or even being near one can cause some people to experience symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation. Those with breathing problems like asthma, might experience more severe symptoms.

Health officials recommend that people experiencing these symptoms stay away from beach areas. They also recommend people who live near Bonita Beach Park to keep their windows closed, and to keep pets away from the water.

Andrea Perdomo is a reporter for WGCU News. She started her career in public radio as an intern for the Miami-based NPR station, WLRN. Andrea graduated from Florida International University, where she was a contributing writer for the student-run newspaper, The Panther Press, and was also a member of the university's Society of Professional Journalists chapter.