Karen Spencer Staff writer Scientists tracking the red tide reported Friday that the large offshore algae bloom near Destin had worsened. The latest tests from a research vessel in the Gulf of Mexico tracking the dangerous algae found the size of the red-tide colony had grown to 20 miles wide with very high cell counts. When the colony was first located earlier in the week off of Destin, it was gauged at one mile wide and 10 miles long with counts of red-tide algae from one million to 7 million cells per liter of water. Those counts have now risen, up to 20 million in some patches, with a rise on the Gulf beaches here of up to 10 million cells per liter.
Aerial photos show that the red tide now runs from near Panama City to Pensacola.
The latest counts are in the very high range, according to state Department of Environmental Protection officials. Low red tide counts are under 10,000, with medium at 100,000 and high at 1 million. The state Health Department issued an advisory about the red tide Thursday, recommending people experiencing red tide symptoms, such as eye, nose and throat irritation resembling a cold should remain away from beach areas. Beachside residents should close windows and doors and run air conditioners. Those who work outdoors may wear paper filter masks, the statement advised.