MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2008 Jul 4;57(26):717-20.
A "red tide" is a harmful algal bloom that occurs when toxic, microscopic algae in seawater proliferate to a higher-than-normal concentration (i.e., bloom), often discoloring the water red, brown, green, or yellow. Red tides can kill fish, birds, and marine mammals and cause illness in humans. Florida red tide is caused by the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, which produces toxins called brevetoxins and is most commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico; however, K. brevis blooms also can occur along the Atlantic coast. On September 25, 2007, a cluster of respiratory illnesses was reported to the Nassau County Health Department (NCHD) in northeastern Florida. All of the ill persons were employed at a beach restoration worksite by a dredging company operating at Fernandina Beach; they reported symptoms of eye or respiratory irritation (e.g., coughing, sneezing, sniffling, and throat irritation). NCHD and the Florida Department of Health promptly conducted epidemiologic and environmental investigations and determined the illnesses likely were associated with exposure to a red tide along the Atlantic coast. These actions highlight the importance of rapid investigation of health concerns with potential environmental causes to enable timely notification of the public and prevent further illness.
“赤潮”是一种有害藻华，当海水中有毒的微小藻类大量繁殖至高于正常浓度（即形成藻华）时就会发生，海水常常会因此变成红色、棕色、绿色或黄色。赤潮会导致鱼类、鸟类和海洋哺乳动物死亡，并使人类患病。佛罗里达赤潮由短裸甲藻引起，这种藻类会产生一种名为短裸甲藻毒素的毒素，在墨西哥湾最为常见；不过，短裸甲藻藻华也可能出现在大西洋沿岸。2007年9月25日，佛罗里达州东北部的拿骚县卫生部门（NCHD）接到了一系列呼吸道疾病报告。所有患病人员均受雇于费南迪纳海滩一家疏浚公司的海滩修复工地；他们报告了眼睛或呼吸道受刺激的症状（如咳嗽、打喷嚏、抽鼻子和喉咙不适）。NCHD和佛罗里达州卫生部迅速开展了流行病学和环境调查，并确定这些疾病可能与接触大西洋沿岸的赤潮有关。这些行动凸显了迅速调查可能由环境原因导致的健康问题的重要性，以便及时向公众通报情况并防止更多人患病。
