Florida's red tide makes tourists ill and kills record numbers of manatees

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Florida's red tide makes tourists ill and kills record numbers of mantees
Florida's red tide makes tourists ill and kills record numbers of mantees


A tide of toxic red algae is plaguing the Florida coast, killing a record number of manatees and causing tourists with respiratory problems and allergies to become ill.

People on the southwest coast around Fort Myers have reported respiratory problems for up to 24 hours after inhaling toxins released by the algae near red tides.

Tourists and locals are being warned to be wary of waters with a deep reddish-brown hue off the gulf of Mexico.

Florida's red tide makes tourists ill and kills record numbers of mantees
Florida's red tide makes tourists ill and kills record numbers of mantees

Florida's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute reports that 241 manatees have so far been found dead - far more than the 151 that were found during the last red tide. And the death toll is expected to rise.

It is unclear why this year's algae bloom was so lengthy and toxic.


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