Toxic algae poisons more than 150 on Italian coast

More than 150 beachgoers required treatment in the north-western Italian town of Genoa for high fever and breathing problems after inhaling a toxin produced by a tropical algae, officials said today.

Twelve people were in hospital as a precaution, while others were treated and released between Sunday evening and yesterday, said Federico Grasso, a spokesman for a regional environment protection agency.