[sickfromredtide]

Originally Posted by sunnyhelena

are they trying to remedy the situation? How does red tide affect humans? Is there any pending litigation?

sunny

Please check out www.redtidealert.com for much more info.

[sunrico90]

Deadly red tide toxins can linger on sea grass for weeks after the deadly algae fades from surrounding waters, scientists now believe. Red tide-tainted sea grass has been linked to the deaths of 27 manatees whose bodies were found in Lee County waters in late March and early April.

As of April 13, 120 manatee deaths had been reported in 2007 across the state.

Last year, 417 manatee deaths were recorded, the deadliest year on record for manatees. Other major causes of death for manatees include boat injuries, cold stress and natural causes.

[sunrico90]

Info for all:

Southeast (AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, PR, SC, TX, VI)
Blair Mase-Guthrie (Mammals), Stranding Coordinator
National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA
75 Virginia Beach Dr.
Miami, FL 33149
Phone: (305) 361-4586; Fax (305) 361-1462

Laura Engleby (Mammals), Stranding Program Administrator
National Marine Fisheries Service
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 824-5312; Fax (727) 824-5309

[dreamofmonterey]

Good to know. Hope everyone takes heed and reports anything- we cant control real estate speculation, but we can at least help animals!


sunny

[sunrico90]

In Flagler County, biologists are trying to figure out what happened to a young male manatee that was found dead in the Intercoastal Waterway Sunday.

The 3-year-old manatee was found floating in the water just south of Flagler Beach, Fla., with a large, deep gash on its back.

A necropsy is being performed to determine if the manatee was killed by a boat.

An estimated 3,000 manatees in Florida are on the endangered species list.

[redtidehealthissue]

Originally Posted by sickfromredtide

Please check out www.redtidealert.com for much more info.

Don't look now but the Marine and Freshwater Toxins Hotline will tell you that humans are only getting runny noses, itchy eyes, and coughing as symptoms.

My mother is in the hospital as we speak. She went down to Panama City Beach, Florida with a slight cold. Little did she know...because NO ONE bothered to tell her or anyone else...that there was a significant red tide outbreak there at the time.

Almost immediately, she got the symptoms above. BUT...since she had a little cold already, she didn't think anything of it. Then, she sat in a hot tub enjoying her respite. She took a deep, cleansing breath that BURNED all the way down into her lungs....terribly and painfully!! She didn't know what was happening. Shortly thereafter, she left the beach for good, but it was TOO LATE!!

Red Tide toxin (brevetoxin) had invaded her body. She battled the cold which turned into bronchitis. She ended up insisting on an x-ray when she didn't get any better. It showed a lung infiltrate...fairly large one. She had some pleural effusion and even some pericardial effusion. On CTscan, even her spleen showed some changes.

TOXIN....TOXIN....TOXIN....TOXIN...that is what red tide givees off and releases into the air. It is a toxin that can pervade many different organs in short order....in manatees it has gone to the brain and liver, too!! POISON....POISON....POISON...that is what it is to the body!

BUT....still the "PR Machine" tells you NOTHING! You may have no idea what you are getting yourself in for by simply going on vacation!!

The research shows that there are possible long-term effects from red tide toxin exposure. The TOXIN compromises the victims IMMUNE SYSTEM. Just like in the AIDS situation, people who are affected become vulnerable to OPPORTUNISTIC secondary infections. Such infections may go on to cause DEATH....DEATH.....DEATH!!

This is not some alarmist information...this is the ABSOLUTE TRUTH!! Those who have an already compromised immune system or possible lung compromise from smoking or some other disease process need to RUN FROM RED TIDE!!! Do NOT stick around to see what might happen!!

Researchers indicate there are not enough studies on humans. Do you suppose that Florida is seeking out information from thost affected? What are doctors doing who encounter these red tide victims? Is there a set treatment? Is there an antidote? OR, is there pressure from the economic interests to under-document red tide toxin exposure??????

Well, I think you can figure out what I think....

Redtidehealthissue