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By Veronica Beltran

beware of the blue-green algae

Beware of the blue-green algae this lake season

Jul 15, 2019 | 3:31 PM

PRINCE GEORGE–Beware of the Blue-Green algae when heading out to the lake, that’s what Northern Health wants to remind the public.

As the weather warms the blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, may appear in lakes throughout northern BC. The algae can look like scum, grass clippings and even fuzz or globs, differing in colours from blue-green, greenish-brown, brown or pinkish red, smelling musty or grassy.

The algae can cause skin irritation, rash, sore throat, red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea if made contact with or ingested. The symptoms can show up within a few hours of coming into contact with the bacteria an usually resolve within one or two days.

Precautions:

• Avoid all contact with blue-green algae blooms. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible
• Do not swim or wade (or allow your pets to swim or wade) in any areas where blue-green algae is visible
• Do not cook with lake water, boiling lake water will not remove blue-green algae toxins
• Provide an alternate source of drinking water for pets, be wary of pets drinking lake water

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