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Testing Expands In South Florida After Rare Red Tide Appears Off Palm Beach County

Richard Graulich
/
Palm Beach Post
Zach McGowen, of Jupiter, checks out the water for possible surfing conditions south of Jupiter inlet on Monday. McGowen said he had just come from the Juno Beach Pier area, where he noticed much stronger respiratory irritants in the air.

Testing for a red tide that has ravaged Florida’s Gulf Coast has expanded into Miami-Dade and Broward counties after Florida environmental officials confirmed the presence of the toxic algae off Palm Beach County on Monday.

Miami-Dade sampled water at four beaches on Tuesday, said Natural Resources Division Chief Lisa Spadafina, after state officials recommended it. Results should be available Thursday, she said. Beaches and inlets in Broward County, as well as waters two miles offshore, are also being tested, Broward County officials said, after one person formally complained of symptoms in Deerfield Beach.

In Monroe County, researchers who regularly test water say they have so far not detected any Karenia brevis cells, the algae that cause red tide. Regular testing done by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found no elevated levels as of Friday.

Read more at our news partner, the Miami Herald

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