South Marco Beach is the newest beach where red tide is present.
State health officials warn beachgoers on Marco Island’s popular beach to be careful if they have health problems.
It is the third beach in three days in Collier County where algae bloom that can cause breathing problems.
More: Beach walking in Southwest-Florida? Be aware of the harmful red flood
According to the Ministry of Health, a test with Golf Water at South Marco was conducted on December 9.
Earlier this week, Seagate Beach in Naples was the first where the State advised the public to take precautions if they have chronic health problems.
Dead fish washed along Bonita Beach as a result of red flood on 1 August 2018. This red flood has been blooming since October 2017 along the coast of Southwest-Florida.
Clam Pass Beach and Barefoot Beach were added to the list the next day (Tuesday).
Officials in Lee County warned that the red flood is off the coast of Sanibel Island.
Opinion: Advice: following red flood on the southwest coast of Florida
Red flood is caused by high concentrations of a toxin -producing microscopically small algae, called K. Brevis, which occurs in the Gulf of Mexico. Tests performed on December 5 confirmed red flood based on water samples.
A cold front entered southwest-florida on Wednesday. Cold fronts often help to break the red flowering.
Red flood usually occurs naturally off the coast, usually in late summer or early fall, and is led to the coastal waters by wind and current.
With sufficiently high concentrations, the algae can discolour the water, so that it looks reddish or brown.
Is red flood harmful? Can it kill pets??
The algae produce powerful toxins that can be harmful to people and fish. It can kill pets.
Children, the elderly and everyone with a weakened immune system or with chronic respiratory diseases may run the risk of more serious symptoms.
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Breathing symptoms: Cough, sneezing, runny nose, squeaky breathing or shortness of breath. These symptoms can be temporary, but people with chronic respiratory diseases must be particularly careful.
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Eye irritation: Tears eyes.
What precautions should I follow?
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Search for informative signs that are placed on most public beaches and/or check the current water quality status for Protecting Florida Together.
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Waad or do not swim in or around red water. Red flood can cause skin irritation, skin rashes and burning/painful eyes.
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Wash your skin and clothing with soap and fresh water if you have recently had contact with red flood, especially if your skin gets easily irritated.
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Stay careful and stay away from locations with red water, especially if you have chronic respiratory diseases.
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Residents who live in beach areas are advised to close the windows and switch on the air conditioning. Make sure that the air conditioner filter is maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
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Harvest or eat no molluscs or distressed or dead fish at this location. If they are caught alive and healthy, whales are safe to eat, as long as they are filed and the intestines are thrown away. Rinse the fillets with tap or bottle water.
For additional information about the possible health effects of algae bloom, you can visit the webpage about harmful algae bloom of the Florida Department of Health on floridahealth.gov/envimesal-health/aquatic-toxins/harmful-algae-blooms/index.html
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Will the cold front expel the red tide from the beaches of Collier?
