Red tide bloom reported near Tarpon Bay Beach Road access on Sanibel

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County is notifying the public of a red tide bloom near Tarpon Bay Road Beach Access which may cause short-lived respiratory symptoms.

The bloom may cause eye, nose and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms.

Symptoms tend to subside after leaving the area or going indoors.

The Department recommends that you:

• Do not swim around dead fish at this location.
• If you have chronic respiratory problems, be careful and consider staying away from this location as red tide can affect your breathing.
• Do not harvest or eat molluscan shellfish and distressed or dead fish from this location. If fish are healthy, rinse fillets with tap or bottled water and throw out the guts.
• Keep pets and livestock away from water, sea foam and dead sea life.
• Residents living in beach areas are advised to close windows and run the air conditioner (making sure that the A/C filter is maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications).
• If outdoors, residents may choose to wear paper filter masks, especially if onshore winds are blowing.

Florida Poison Control Centers have a toll-free 24/7 Hotline for reporting of illnesses, including health effects from exposure to red tide at 1-800-222-1222.

Please visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research website for additional information on the locations where red tide has been found: myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/.