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Florida’s red tide events tied to illness

A sign provides information about beach conditions, specifically addressing the presence of the Florida Red Tide. It lists possible effects like eye or skin irritation, and respiratory issues, advising against harvesting shellfish. Contact details for the Collier County Red Tide Hotline and a website link are included. Logos for Naples Marco Island Everglades and another entity are at the bottom.

Red tide warning sign posted in a Collier County beach. (Photo credit: K. Blokhin)

Florida’s hospitals can expect an uptick in patients during red tide events, a new University of Florida Health study has found.

The research identifies red tide as a direct cause of ailments and rings the red alarm for coastal residents and tourists.

Analyzing eight years of data from Florida’s Gulf Coast, researchers found clear patterns linking red tide blooms to spikes in respiratory and stomach problems. The study is the first to move beyond association and provide evidence of causation between red tide exposure and illness.

Read the full story on https://ufhealth.org/news/2025/floridas-red-tide-events-tied-to-illness.