Italian Beaches Closed After Neurotoxic Algae Outbreak - ANSA

[hatrack]

ANSA) - Rome, July 31 - Holidaymakers have been banned from taking dips along two stretches of Italian coastline because of invasions of "toxic seaweed" . On Friday authorities temporarily banned bathing at beaches near the northern city of Genoa, after a 60-year-old man was hospitalized .

Subsequent tests revealed unusually high concentrations of Ostreopsis ovata, algae that release neurotoxins into the air. Over 200 people in the Genoa area required hospital treatment when the same weed appeared last year . The people fell ill after coming into direct contact with the algae while swimming or because they inhaled toxins carried to the beach by the breeze .

Earlier this month, regional authorities banned swimming at the resort of Fregene, near Rome - a popular spot with the capital's VIPs - because of toxic seaweed . People who break the bans risk fines .

Experts stressed that the "toxic algae" generally only cause minor skin irritations and respiratory problems . "The algae do not represent a major health danger," said Donato Greco of the Health Ministry's National Centre for the Control and Prevention of Illness (CEE) . "There is only a risk of slight poisoning in rare cases with particularly sensitive subjects" .

EDIT

Uh, yeah, whatever you say, Boss.

http://ansa.it/main/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2006-07-31_1317606.html