The toxic red tide that has devastated Florida since 2017 has not been detected in the waters

February 22, 2019, 14:19 GMT

By Minyvonne Burke

An organism that has generated a toxic red tide in Florida waters since 2017, causing health problems among residents and killing thousands of marine lives, is no longer detected, said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in a report.

The agency said Wednesday it had collected water samples from southwestern Florida, northwestern Florida and along the state's east coast, without finding any trace of Karenia brevis, a microscopic alga that turns red.

Red tides can last from a few weeks to more than a year, according to the FWC. The current red tide devastating the region was reported for the first time in November 2017.

"Many red tides produce toxic chemicals that can affect both marine organisms and humans," the agency said on its website.

The Karenia brevis organism produces patentoxins that attack the fish's central nervous system, causing their death. In August, Florida Governor Rick Scott declared the state of emergency for seven counties after thousands of marine animals were killed due to the red tide.

In a statement, Scott said he wanted to "provide significant funding and resources to the communities plagued by the red tide so we can combat its terrible impacts."

The toxins released by algae can also be harmful to humans, the FWC said. When the toxins are inhaled, they tighten the passages in the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing and coughing.

Monet Sexaure, a resident of Siesta Key, a barrier island located on Red Tide Road, told NBC News in September that she was suffering from headaches and coughs, and that she was connecting its symptoms at the toxic red tide.

"I thought I was coming down with a cold," she said. "But I've never had a cold."

Sexaure reported contacting Florida's poison control centers and being told to wash her clothes frequently as toxins could cling to the fabric. His doctor advised him to take medication to relieve his symptoms.

The FWC has announced that it will issue another report on the red tide on Friday.