Bathing ban: Toxic algae on Italy's beautiful Adriatic Sea – beaches partially closed
Holidays and lovely days on the beach - that's how most people imagine their ideal holiday in Italy. But the authorities on the Adriatic are currently battling an invisible plague. A plague is currently spreading that is not without danger and is also keeping the authorities busy. Already - in the middle of the high season - some places have had to be closed. Tourists are clearly warned via warning signs and also on the radio.
The Mediterranean is suffering from a dangerous algae infestation.
The reason for this is the poisonous algae “Ostreopsis Ovata”. The algae cannot be seen with the naked eye, but are spreading more and more in the Mediterranean this summer.
The "Ostreopsis Ovata" can be dangerous for people even without direct contact. "The algae itself is not poisonous. But it becomes poisonous when its cells break on contact with rocks. The cell fragments can then get into the air and be inhaled," explains Maurizio Dionisio, head of the environmental agency for the eastern region of Abruzzo. Although these cell fragments are more likely to be found on rocks and not directly on the sandy beaches, some coastal areas have already had to be closed due to the health risk.
Authorities warn tourists
The plague has already appeared this summer in both the east and the northwest of the country. In Liguria, a good 500 people suffered from the typical symptoms such as headaches, breathing difficulties, nausea, fever and dizziness. However, the symptoms usually disappear after a few days - without any subsequent damage.
Nevertheless, authorities advise people with breathing problems in particular to avoid the affected coasts on the Adriatic at the moment. Employees of rescue services, hotels or restaurants or various rental companies near the coast are also at risk.
The reason for the algae plague is the consequences of climate change. The warming of the Mediterranean ensures that the algae can multiply more quickly and spread further. Evidence of their geographical existence there has been available since the end of the 1980s.