The coast of the US state of Florida was covered with a huge mass of algae from the "Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt", the total weight of which is estimated at 13 million tons, writes Interfax.ru with reference to The Guardian.
In addition to a sharp putrid odor that scares off fans of a beach holiday, algae contain Vibrio vulnificus bacteria.
If ingested through the intestinal mucosa, these bacteria can lead to sepsis and even death.
It is noted that Vibrio vulnificus bacteria are also pathogens of fish and crustaceans, which poses a threat to the industrial production of fish and seafood.
Volunteers and specialists will clean the coast from harmful algae, without fail using thick rubber gloves and special grips to prevent contact with the bacterium.