Several beaches are closed on the Basque coast, the fault of the presence of Ostreopsis, a toxic algae which causes symptoms similar to the flu.
It causes coughing, nausea, hives, flu-like illness, the toxic algae Ostreopsis has arrived on the Basque coast. Be careful if you plan to spend a few days at the ocean, with your feet in the water. The National Food Safety Agency (Anses) warns of the current situation in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
If at the moment no serious case has been reported, people with respiratory or skin problems could see their symptoms aggravated. These symptoms generally disappear between 24 and 48 hours after contact or inhalation.
Last week, purple flags flew all over the Basque coast. This flag indicates the presence of a dangerous aquatic species or pollution and therefore a ban on swimming. Ostreopsis algae have caused the closure of beaches in Anglet, Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
Present in the Mediterranean for twenty years, Ostreopsis is an algae of tropical origin. Since 2018, it has extended to the Atlantic and goes up towards the French coasts. In 2021, already, it had caused the closure of the beach, again in the Basque Country. Invisible to the naked eye, they form sort of brown puddles in the water and frothy deposits by the sea. The metallic taste, even after a simple inhalation, is a reliable indicator of the presence of Ostreopsis.
ANSES recommends strengthening surveillance and advises local authorities to maximize prevention, particularly for people at risk. Be careful, simply walking on the beach represents a risk of poisoning.