Tice Shooting in Tice neighborhood injuries 1 man The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting that injured one in a neighborhood in Tice.
Plenty of sunshine for your Wednesday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a sunny Wednesday along with mild afternoon conditions.
port charlotte Port Charlotte to host electronic recycling event Residents of Port Charlotte can free up space in their homes as the city has announced an electronic recycling event.
CAPE CORAL Local non-profit, Family Initiative, has big plans after receiving $5 million from Golisano A multi-million dollar donation is helping people with autism have priceless experiences.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County deputies bust park drug deal after community tip One man’s drug deal in Charlotte County wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Dog alerts Lee County woman to home intruder The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 22-year-old man for burglary and loitering after he broke into a woman’s home and stood inches away from her bed as she slept.
NAPLES Naples business owner accused of rape In 2023, 14,021 domestic violence 911 calls came into Collier County.
manasota key Charlotte County Commissioners vote ‘Yes’ to changes and redevelopment on Manasota Key The Charlotte County Commissioners voted to pass charges that residents on Manasota Key have been dreading.
The debate over fluoride in Florida’s water The water you drink and use to brush your teeth is fueling a community, state and national conversation.
SANIBEL Phase 2 of Sanibel Beach renourishment project set to begin Eric Jackson, Sanibel’s Public Information Officer, is encouraging residents and visitors to still come to the beach.
NAPLES Riding toward a brighter future for kids: The story of Bikes for Tykes For nearly four decades, Bikes for Tykes has been on a mission to give children and adults in need in Southwest Florida a chance to ride refurbished bicycles.
ENGLEWOOD SWFL agencies bring chaplains on staff to offer support to first responders First responders across the country face the devastating impact of suicide nationwide those numbers are rising.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County deputies arrest man for ATV and UTV thefts, fence destruction A North Fort Myers man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a four-wheeler, crashing it into a property fence, and later trying to flee on a second stolen vehicle.
‘I saw God twice:’ Boating accident survivor thanks Lee Health After surviving an unthinkable accident in Matlacha, one woman wants to thank the medical team that saved her.
MATLACHA Blue Dog restaurant in Matlacha thankful for decade of support The Blue Dog Bar & Grill in Matlacha has survived multiple hurricanes over the past decade. Now, they’re thanking the community for supporting them every step of the way.
Tice Shooting in Tice neighborhood injuries 1 man The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting that injured one in a neighborhood in Tice.
Plenty of sunshine for your Wednesday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a sunny Wednesday along with mild afternoon conditions.
port charlotte Port Charlotte to host electronic recycling event Residents of Port Charlotte can free up space in their homes as the city has announced an electronic recycling event.
CAPE CORAL Local non-profit, Family Initiative, has big plans after receiving $5 million from Golisano A multi-million dollar donation is helping people with autism have priceless experiences.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County deputies bust park drug deal after community tip One man’s drug deal in Charlotte County wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Dog alerts Lee County woman to home intruder The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 22-year-old man for burglary and loitering after he broke into a woman’s home and stood inches away from her bed as she slept.
NAPLES Naples business owner accused of rape In 2023, 14,021 domestic violence 911 calls came into Collier County.
manasota key Charlotte County Commissioners vote ‘Yes’ to changes and redevelopment on Manasota Key The Charlotte County Commissioners voted to pass charges that residents on Manasota Key have been dreading.
The debate over fluoride in Florida’s water The water you drink and use to brush your teeth is fueling a community, state and national conversation.
SANIBEL Phase 2 of Sanibel Beach renourishment project set to begin Eric Jackson, Sanibel’s Public Information Officer, is encouraging residents and visitors to still come to the beach.
NAPLES Riding toward a brighter future for kids: The story of Bikes for Tykes For nearly four decades, Bikes for Tykes has been on a mission to give children and adults in need in Southwest Florida a chance to ride refurbished bicycles.
ENGLEWOOD SWFL agencies bring chaplains on staff to offer support to first responders First responders across the country face the devastating impact of suicide nationwide those numbers are rising.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County deputies arrest man for ATV and UTV thefts, fence destruction A North Fort Myers man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a four-wheeler, crashing it into a property fence, and later trying to flee on a second stolen vehicle.
‘I saw God twice:’ Boating accident survivor thanks Lee Health After surviving an unthinkable accident in Matlacha, one woman wants to thank the medical team that saved her.
MATLACHA Blue Dog restaurant in Matlacha thankful for decade of support The Blue Dog Bar & Grill in Matlacha has survived multiple hurricanes over the past decade. Now, they’re thanking the community for supporting them every step of the way.
Barracuda is among the fish that has made people sick with the harmful toxin. (Credit: World Health Organization) Doctors know of a rare illness called ciguatera that is making people sick after eating certain kinds of fish. They think a “super bug” algae is to blame. Researchers from Florida Gulf Coast University are zeroing in on what’s helping the super bug spread though the water around the Florida Keys. “What we’ve learned in the last year is that there are some bugs that produce about 1,000 times more toxin than the ones they co-exist with,” said Dr. Mike Parsons, professor of marine science at FGCU. “I get emails every week or two from people who have contracted ciguatera.” Ciguatera is a kind of food poisoning that affects your nerves. In extreme cases, it makes warm items feel icy cold and frigid things feel scalding hot. Understanding where the super bug that causes the illness lives and what makes it grow are imperative. They want to predict which fish will make you sick and which will not. Parsons and his team have been working to solve that problem since WINK News first followed along with them a year ago in the Florida Keys. He said significant changes in the water, like temperature, can help or hurt the bug grow. They are still collecting samples and working to answer how it lives through testing in their laboratory. “We’re looking in deeper water,” Parsons said. “They tend to like cooler temperatures.” Ciguatera sickens about 1,000 people a year in Florida. Certain fish, like Barracuda, eat the super bug, producing the toxin. Since you cannot kill it by cooking the fish, you run the risk of getting sick if you eat it. The red area indicates disease-endemic areas of Ciguatera. (Credit: Channing Frampton/WINK News) Mary Ann Reis contracted ciguatera after eating fish found near the United States and the British Virgin Islands. She said she spent the whole day lying down while having “incredible burning and itching” in her earlobes. With no known cure, all doctors can do is treat the symptoms. The effects of the illness can last for decades. Florida’s recreational saltwater fishing industry generates more than $11 billion a year and supports more than 160,000 jobs. Barry Baroudi, an experienced fisherman from Charlotte County, said he does not think the super bug will affect the fishing industry here. “It’s not something that affects all the fish,” Baroudi said. Baroudi said he knows about ciguatera and the harm it can do, but his solution is simple. “I just know to avoid eating the fish that contain it,” he said. The risk of ciguatera from fish caught in southwest Florida is very low. The International Association for Medical Assistance for Travelers says, “Ciguatera Fish Poisoning commonly occurs in tropical and subtropical areas, particularly in the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea.”