A mysterious epidemic continues to sweep South Florida's coral reefs.... The disease called white plague transforms corals into lifeless skeletons.
At this point, white plague has infected more than 20 coral species from the Middle Keys through Palm Beach County.
According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, the disease occurs in unusually warm water and leads corals to expel the piece of algae that provides them with color.
The Sun-Sentinel reports that on the reefs running from mid-Miami-Dade County through Martin County, scientists have observed a 35 percent loss of reef-building coral.
Scientists don’t know whether the disease is caused by a bacteria, virus, fungus or other pathogen. They don’t know why it infects certain species and not others. They don’t know how to stop it.
The state is spending $1 million this year to study it and the water conditions that surround it, with another $1 million coming next year, according to DEP.