Hurricane Ian

Four months after Hurricane Ian, shards of debris have been washed onto the coast and lawns, and there is a spike in the number of cases of very dangerous flesh-eating bacteria.

Hurricane season is long gone, but Florida's waterways are still recovering. The powerful storms pushed millions of gallons of sewage and fertilizer into freshwater bodies ,causing outbreaks of blue-green algae, which can be toxic to humans and fish.

Winds from the north expected during a major cold front coming through Thursday should push the red tide offshore or back to the south, away from the beaches.

From Tampa Bay south to Ten Thousand Islands, the algae bloom is so prevalent, pungent and potentially poisonous that the authors of health advisories ignored the long-established practice of softening the language to avoid scaring away tourists.

Prior to Ian’s landfall over a month ago, the county reported a mosquito count of about 13,000. Two weeks after the storm brought historic flood levels, the county reported 46,000 mosquitos.

Researchers say Hurricane Ian brought red tide, destroyed artificial reefs from as far away as 30 miles from the coast and could impact the state's fishing industry.

Lengthy checklists from public health officials on handling emergencies miss vulnerable seniors who can’t always follow the recommendations.

The Florida Department of Health reports 28 cases and six deaths in Lee County from Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterial infection that thrives in warm, brackish water.

Besides children being injured in the actual event, physical symptoms may manifest as an increase of headaches or stomachaches. But for mental health, the hallmark symptom is post-traumatic stress.

Volunteers from Floodgate Medical are helping Suncoast Estates in North Fort Myers come back from the hurricane's damage and destruction.