capecodnative

I have been keeping close watch on the red tide outbreak and reading the weekly reports from the local health and marine groups and it appeared as of last week's report that the outbreak had lessened in Sanibel based on the samples. But now I read in my local paper that it's pretty bad regardless of the reports and is affecting people's respiratory systems (sneezing, wheezing, puffy and itchy eyes, difficulty breathing) and causing skin irritations (rashes and itches) even in healthy people.

So what's the real story from those who have been there recently. I'd hate to get there and then have to spend all my time indoors because we can't breathe the air or swim in the ocean.

Sue_xx_yy

I've only heard of saxitoxin (red tide) poisoning occurring as a result of the ingestion of infected shellfish, although there is another group of shellfish toxins (brevetoxins) which can be turned into an aerosol form by the pounding of the surf in affected areas. People walking the surf line of such areas have been known to complain about sore throats and breathing problems, due to inhalation of the aerosol form of this other group of toxins.

Bottom line, there can be lots of reasons for such symptoms, varying greatly from individual to individual, and not necessarily due to saxitoxin. Thus, as opposed to individual anecdotes, you really need to get the official report of the local health board of the area in question.

Tandoori_Girl

I thought the problem is isolated at this time to Longboat Key area. The stretch is 50 miles from north to south, beginning at the southern edge of the mouth of Tampa Bay (Anna Maria) according to a Boston Globe article today. That does not put this problem in the Captiva area NOW as Captiva is quite a bit further south. What article are you referring to? It is WAY more than 50 miles from south Tampa Bay to Captiva.

The health problems with red tide are nothing new. But this particular red tide seems to be having a heavier affect than usual. I've not been there (do you mean Sanibel?) recently but was at Treasure Island this past weekend and there were no dead fish, no air problems. This despite the fact that Marine Fisheries has found red tide specimen samples in Redington Beach north of TI.

Tandoori_Girl

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ar..._lungs_ashore/

LI8

Could somebody local tell how far away from the coast line in Sarasota you can have symptoms of red tide? I understand that some people are more sensitive, but in average.
I called the hotel in Siesta Key where I made reservation and was told that all these symtptoms are present now.
There is no dead fish on the beach , but people complain of throat irritation.
Trying to figure it out, maybe it would be better to find the hotel not so close to the shore.

Thank you very much

Tandoori_Girl

Red tide toxins are spread over land by westerlies that blow over the Gulf of Mexico and over the adjoining land. If you have easterly winds, then there is much less probability of problems with red tide in the air. So the answer to your question has more to do with the winds that blow over the red tide.

highbay

TG:
We're experiencing a pretty good westerly wind up in the Bayport area. Our weather station is showing 15mph steady winds with 24mph gusts.

joan

The red tide has made it to Tampa Bay. I live on the north side of the mouth of Tampa Bay (on Treasure Island) and it is definitely in the air today, big surf and very strong onshore winds - 20 mph - which helped bring it east and north. I noticed it as soon as I walked outside (3 houses from beach). Sorry to be the bearer of bad news...

I would say that you cannot detect red tide inland (more than a mile), to answer the L18's question. This is from my own personal experience, don't know the "official" answer on that.

hannahcarter

I was in Sanibel March 13-20th. Only thing we saw in Sanibel was some dead fish along the beach. When we went to to the Mucky Duck in Captiva, some of us did start to cough. We just stayed for a short time b/c didn't like the uneasy feeling. It really was not a big deal in Sanibel.

westdudedom

People have reported problems ten or more minutes off that beach, but must say this is second-hand information provided by telephone last night. Difficult to predict how long it will stick around, they say. Some have said we get this problem on the west coast, but we've not had that experience yet, and are keeping our fingers crossed it's an east coast phenomenon. Good luck, but I would think the problem will disappear in the very near future.

LN

Hi

I'm on Longboat Key now (have been here since the beginning of January) and the Red Tide has come and gone a couple times.

For the most part once I leave the beach my sensitivity stops but then my sensitivity has been limited to a tickling in my throat and cough drops have helped.

We've had one episode where we've had dead fish on the beach and that did elevate the aroma. That's been cleaned up and we're back to beach walks.

When the RT is bothersome most everyone stays around the pools and/or rides bikes. It isn't really bothersome to you once you're off the beach.

capecodnative

Thanks for the responses...

Tandoori Girl -- that was the article in my local paper but I've been reading some things from the past month in the Ft. Myers area papers and spoke to some people who just got back three weeks ago. There have been some fairly strong discomfort reported in people and some unhappy experiences with the red tide. The reports I've been reading at the city of Sanibel site seem to show that the blooms are greatly diminished and only one found last week but there are still reports of dead fish and coughs/rashes so I don't know what to think.

I have a week or two more to decide so I'll keep watching. It would just be unfortunate to get there and have to spend most of the time away from the beach.

LI8

according to map http://www.floridamarine.org/feature...p?id=12373#Map
there is no red tide in the area below Sarasota. But , based on information in the messages above red tide are far south.
Looks like official information is kind of misleading.
Really really upsetting news.
Not a fun plan to spend vacation in the hotel room or hanging around in the area .

Tandoori_Girl

Joan, sorry to hear it. Maybe it will subside after these winds stop. I have tenants in my house from Indianapolis. Yikes. I will tell them to take advantage of those free bikes in the shed.

It's better weather than in Indianapolis, red tide or no red tide.