[fl_life]

Hi,
I currently live on the west coast of fl where red tide is almost a yearly occurance. Currently, there is a bloom on the east coast of florida. We were thinking of moving to the st. augustine area until we saw that they also get red tide. Does the east coast normally get red tide blooms? they are nasty and give me breathing trouble which was why we were considering a move. Any info on east coast red tide blooms would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Originally Posted by fl_life

Hi,
I currently live on the west coast of fl where red tide is almost a yearly occurance. Currently, there is a bloom on the east coast of florida. We were thinking of moving to the st. augustine area until we saw that they also get red tide. Does the east coast normally get red tide blooms? they are nasty and give me breathing trouble which was why we were considering a move. Any info on east coast red tide blooms would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

There is another thread about it here some place.
We had it here (I am just north of Jax) for a week or ten days.
I am new on the east coast, but everyone did tell me it was quite unusual, but not unheard of.

[sunrico90]

See link Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

[pirate girl]

I've lived on the east coast of Florida for 14 years and this is the first time I've experienced a red tide here. It's definitely not common or normal and it pushes over from the gulf coast.

Edited to add- I live about 20 minutes south of St. Augustine.

[songgirl]

I live in St. Augustine and have on and off for 15 years. I went to the beach last week, unaware that red tide had drifted south into St. John's County. It was really gross. It smelled bad, dead fish lying around and my family and I were all coughing.

Anyway, we are all fine now and I am kind of happy that we live about 20 mins. inland instead of right on the coast!

I have never seen the beach look or smell that way before and I hope I never do again. Most of the time the beaches here are very clean and peaceful. It's one of the reasons I love this part of Florida.

If this is what it's like on the west coast of Florida on a frequent basis, I would not be able to live there! I just hope this isn't going to become a normal occurance here as well.

[fl_life]

We moved to the west coast (cape haze penisula) in 2005. they were having a very bad red tide that year. Last year we had it also but not so bad. Nothing yet this year (keeping my fingers crossed). It is horrible - the beaches here are so beautiful but red tide ruins this whole area for me.

[redtidehealthissue]

Red tide toxin is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS to humans!

Case in point:
An otherwise healthy senior woman (from another state) went to Panama City Beach, Florida in October. Unbeknownst to her, there was a significant outbreak of red tide at the time. She had a bit of a cough prior to coming to the beach but was not on medication or receiving any treatment for it.

Within several days, she began to cough constantly. She and her husband couldn't even go on the balcony without coughing. One day she took a deep breath through her mouth. When she did, something went deep into her lungs burning them all the way down! She had an immediate reaction with very tight chest and uncontrollable coughing. She coughed up BLOOD! She became congested with mucus interfering with her breathing. She struggled with little relief.

After an x-ray showed "an infection," she was given Levaquin. No change upon x-ray. CT scan revealed a MASS in her right lung and pericardial effusion! She went on to have other tests. She ended up in the emergency room and after being admitted, ONE LITER of fluid was drained from around her heart! She almost died then.

Forward to now, inoperable mass in the right lung. Chemo needed. Constant cough finally under control with round-the-clock medication. Body weakened, immune system further weakened...time running out!

RED TIDE does more than give you a runny nose and cough! Do NOT believe it when you read the affect on humans is insignificant! Can red tide unmask a tumor? Can it cause a tumor to grow rapidly? Can it lower the immune system so that fighting cancer is impossible? Can it send a woman with no known health issues into a TAIL SPIN downward and into a fight for her life????

YES!...say her family members! We've watched it happen right before our eyes! Red tide is potentially LETHAL to humans!

Why isn't more being done? What is the REAL reason for the "hush-hush" about red tide along Florida's coastline? Whose interests are more important...the business sect or the Florida visitors????

Let's put it this way....NO one wants to properly record what has happened in this case! Most want to suggest that it just can't happen this way. Believe it...it DID happen and its not over yet!

Contact me with your RED TIDE health issues ASAP. I want to speak to all victims of red tide toxin. Your voice must be heard loudly and clearly!

redtidetoxinalert@cox.net
Red Tide Toxin Victims Unite