The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County has has issued a health alert because of a red tide bloom near Cedar Point on the bay side of St. George Island, approximately 2.1 miles north of Apalachicola Bay.
The previous health alerts for red tide blooms near Dog Island, the St. George Island Lighthouse Beach and the Bob Sikes Cut remain in place.
Similar health advisories have also been issued in Gulf County, including Indian Pass and Cape San Blas.
Fish kills have been occuring at various locations in the county.
Parks and Recreation director Fonda Davis said this week that his department has been cleaning dead fish from the public beach areas, but more just keep washing up.
Franklin County commissioners voted Tuesday to send a letter to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection seeking reimbursement for the cleanup work and pointing out that county workers are risking their health by doing the cleanups.
Some people in red tide affected areas may have mild and short-lived respiratory symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation.
Some people 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.
The health Department recommends that you do not swim around dead fish and do not harvest or eat shellfish or distressed or dead fish
Keep pets away from water, sea foam and dead sea life.
Residents living in beach areas in the affected area are advised to close windows and run the air conditioner.
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