Blue-green algae moving into North Fort Myers

Blue-green algae was recently sighted near the Franklin Lock in Alva, and now it is moving down the Caloosahatchee River into North Fort Myers.

MORE: More algae spotted near Franklin Lock in Alva

Neighbors say they could smell the toxic blooms and conditions were so bad, they say an elderly woman had to be taken to the hospital Tuesday.

People saw it in the river near Old Bridge Park this morning but it improved after some rain blew through and broke it up.

Janine Roberts who lives in River’s Edge Mobile Home says she has also gotten sick by being outside near the algae all summer.

“This morning I woke up and my throat hurt, and I was like huh, so I made my cup of coffee and came out here to swing on my swing and it was covered,” Roberts said. “I was like ‘oh… here comes the nightmare again.'”

This week is the first time they’ve see the green slime return since August, and they are just hoping matters don’t get worse.