LEE COUNTY, Fla — The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert because of a red tide bloom near Lighthouse Beach Park.
DOH-Lee says some people may have mild and short-lived respiratory symptoms.
Those symptoms could include eye, nose, and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms.
They say people with breathing problems such as asthma might experience more severe symptoms.
Symptoms usually go away when a person leaves the area or goes indoors DOH- Lee says.
They recommend people experiencing these symptoms stay away from beach areas or go into an air-conditioned space.
The Health Department recommends that you do not swim around dead fish at this location.
They also say if you have chronic respiratory problems, be careful, and consider staying away from this location.
DOH-Lee also wants to remind people not to harvest or eat molluscan shellfish and distressed or dead fish from this location.
They also recommend that you keep pets away from the water and dead sea life.
You have any concerns, the Florida Poison Control Centers has a toll-free 24/7 Hotline for reporting illnesses, including health effects from exposure to red tide at 1-888-232-8635.
