Monday, June 14, 2021

Algal Toxin Health Alert For Lake Okeechobee

The Florida Department of Health in Glades County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Okeechobee. This is in response to water samples taken on June 7, 2021- June 9, 2021. 

The public should exercise caution in and around varies locations on Lake Okeechobee. For specific locations please visit https://floridadep.gov/dear/algal-bloom/content/algal-bloom-sampling-results

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

· Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.

· Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.

· Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.

· Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.

· Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.

· Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

1 comment:

  1. Should we be concerned that this algae could make its way down the Caloosahatchee? (again)

    ReplyDelete