Is the water at the beach making me sick? 3 common questions and answers
The Naples Daily News and News-Press health reporter Liz Freeman has been covering the impact of Hurricane Ian on our water, specifically the Gulf of Mexico, since Hurricane Ian slammed Southwest Florida on Sept. 28.
In a story Freeman published earlier this week she interviewed health experts and reported their takes and advice on water related risks and illnesses pertaining to the Gulf and the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. With season in full force with tourists and snowbirds in the Naples and Fort Myers markets, this is important information to know:
What we know: Is the Gulf of Mexico safe for swimming? Dangers still lurk below: What to know
This is an excerpt from her story that drills down on the most commonly asked questions and answers:
Q. What are the symptoms to watch out for?
Answer: Redness and pain at the site of a cut soon after swimming in the Gulf. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea in the case of coliforms. Respiratory irritation from decomposing fish, red tide, algae blooms.
Q. At what point of infection/symptoms should people seek medical care?
Answer: Any redness associated with a wound, seek care immediately. Most bacterial intestinal infections are self limited. However, if vomiting and diarrhea is resulting in dehydration or severe abdominal pain, it is recommended to visit the emergency room.
This is a dirty job Watch: Cleaning a Fort Myers Beach canal one scoop at a time
Who should stay out of the water?
Answer: The immunocompromised, those with cuts (not scrapes or scratches), those that aren't strong swimmers.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Is Florida's Gulf of Mexico water making people sick
