The beaches of the Basque coast closed since Sunday due to the presence of a microalgae, reopen this Monday afternoon, announces the town hall of Biarritz.
The ARS (Regional Health Agency) of Nouvelle-Aquitaine gave the green light after receiving the analysis of the tests, but will continue its monitoring of bathing water.
During a meeting between the authorities which took place in the morning, it was confirmed that the microalga in question would indeed be
Ostreopsis
, but not necessarily
Ostreopsis ovata
observed in the Mediterranean for ten years.
It could indeed be
Ostreopsis siamensis
, that is to say a slightly different subfamily.
It is mainly concentrated in the north of Saint-Jean-De-Luz and the south of Biarritz.
Anglet, for example, is currently spared.
Monitoring of hospitals and city medicine
Monitoring of hospitals and city medicine is also in place, "this foul-smelling algae can cause epidermal reactions and a flu-like condition", warned the municipality of Biarritz on Monday morning.
City councilor and doctor Guillaume Barucq confirms, describing symptoms “that can mimic those of a mild Covid.
"
This algae had already been observed in the past in Hendaye and Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
Health
Basque Country: Several beaches closed due to the presence of the Ostreopsis algae
World
Algeria: Nearly 200 bathers poisoned following possible marine pollution
Planet
Aquitaine
Bordeaux
Pays Basque
Biarritz
Bathing
Bayonne
Environment
Beach
Algae
Health