HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. -The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County (DOH-Hillsborough) is notifying the public of red tide blooms near Moody Point, Manbirtee Key, Camp Key, and Little Cockroach Island.
Locations with health alert levels (>100,000 K. brevis cells/liter, respiratory irritation and probable fish kills)
- Moody Point
- 1.3 miles west of lower Tampa Bay
- 1.3 miles west of lower Tampa Bay
- Manbirtee Key
- north of lower Tampa Bay
Locations with health caution levels (10,000-100,000 K. brevis cells/liter, respiratory irritation and possible fish kills)
- Camp Key
- 2.2 miles west of middle Tampa Bay
- 2.2 miles west of middle Tampa Bay
- Little Cockroach Island
- 1.9 miles northwest of middle Tampa Bay
Some people may have mild and short-lived respiratory symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation similar to cold symptoms. Some individuals with breathing problems such as asthma might experience more severe symptoms.
Usually symptoms go away when a person leaves the area or goes indoors. Health officials recommend that people experiencing these symptoms stay away from beach areas or go into an air-conditioned space. If symptoms do not subside, please contact your health care provider for evaluation.
DOH-Hillsborough recommends that you:
- Do not swim around dead fish at this location.
- If you have chronic respiratory problems, be careful and consider staying away from this location as red tide can affect your breathing.
- Do not harvest or eat molluscan shellfish from this location.
- Do not harvest or eat distressed or dead fish from this location.
- Rinse fillets from healthy fish with tap or bottled water. Throw out guts.
- Keep pets and livestock away from water, sea foam and dead sea life.
Florida Poison Control Centers have a toll-free 24/7 Hotline for reporting of illnesses, including health effects from exposure to red tide at 1-800-222-1222. Visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research website for information on the locations where red tide has been found.
For additional information about red tide and the current red tide bloom, including information on how to report a fish kill or other wildlife effects, consult health authorities about human exposure, or locate other resources, visit the Red Tide-Related Hotlines and Information Sources article.
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