Florida Department of Health

Health officials in Miami-Dade have lifted water advisories for Golden Beach, Bark Beach, and North Shore Ocean Terrace after recent tests showed safe water quality levels. The advisory was initially triggered by high bacteria levels in the water.

Florida reports several Cyclospora cases, a seasonal intestinal illness causing watery diarrhea. Over 1,500 cases have been reported in Michigan, with investigations ongoing in 30 other states. Health officials in Florida note case numbers align with annual averages.

The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County has issued a water quality advisory for Golden Beach, North Shore Ocean Terrace at 73rd Street, and Bark Beach at 79th Street in Miami Beach due to above-average bacteria levels. The advisory warns against water-related activities to avoid illness risks, and it remains in effect as of Friday afternoon.

Florida's St. Johns River is affected by toxic algae blooms due to excessive nutrients, similar to the issue in Washington's Reflecting Pool. The article suggests Florida's experience with algae blooms could inform solutions for the Reflecting Pool problem.

Florida's attempt to eliminate school vaccine mandates has stalled after the Republican speaker of the Florida House refused to bring the issue to the floor. Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo previously advocated for ending mandates, framing it as a 'medical freedom' issue. Despite introducing anti-vaccine bills in multiple states, similar efforts face challenges due to public health concerns and political calculations.

Angela Perryman, a cruise passenger exposed to hantavirus on the MV Hondius, is being held in federal quarantine by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. despite a CDC recommendation to allow her to return home to Florida. Florida's proposed monitoring plan does not meet federal requirements, leading to an extended quarantine order.

A 17-year-old Florida teen, Joziah Thompson, contracted Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria, after swimming with siblings. He required hospitalization, multiple surgeries, and ongoing treatment. His mother advocates for increased awareness of the bacteria in coastal waters.

A 17-year-old Florida teen, Joziah Thompson, contracted Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria, after swimming at Lion’s Park with his siblings. He required hospitalization, multiple surgeries, and an aggressive antibiotic regimen. His mother is advocating for public awareness about the bacteria’s risks in coastal waters.

A 17-year-old Florida teen contracted Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria, after swimming with siblings, leading to hospitalization and surgeries. His mother advocates for public awareness on bacterial risks in local waters. A GoFundMe supports the family's medical expenses.

A record amount of sargassum seaweed is washing ashore in South Florida, creating unsightly mounds and noxious odors from decomposing hydrogen sulfide gas. Health officials warn the gas can irritate respiratory systems, particularly for those with asthma, as seaweed coverage reaches 4% of the ocean's surface. The expansion of the 'Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt' since 2011 is linked to shifting wind patterns.

Florida legislators finalized an $115 billion fiscal year 2026-27 budget including $4 million in compensation for the Groveland Four, environmental funding for Everglades restoration, and $75 million to sustain an AIDS drug program. The agreement resolved disputes over funding levels and program restrictions, with negotiators describing it as a compromise.

A Florida woman, Autumn Bardisa, pleaded no contest to practicing as an unlicensed nurse and using a fraudulent license number, receiving probation and community service instead of jail. Her actions endangered patients and violated medical licensing laws.