Red Tide Alert along the Gulf Coast...

Health officials in Alabama are warning beach goers to be on guard due to a red tide bloom along the Mississippi and Louisiana coasts. Anyone with respiratory problems should avoid mists from the affected waters, which means avoiding the beach despite unseasonably warm temperatures. Red tides release toxins that can contaminate shellfish and kill fish. They also can cause human respiratory problems, along with irritation of the nose, throat or eyes .Officials in Mississippi and Louisiana closed beaches and oyster beds due to the potential for fish kills and human health problems.