Health department issues alert after harmful toxins found in Lake County waterway

COMBINE FERTILIZER RUNOFF WITH HEAT, AND WE OFTEN SEE ALGAE FORMING IN CENTRAL FLORIDA LAKES. STEWART: WHEN THAT ALGAE STARTS TO PRODUCE TOXINS, HEALTH ALERTS ARE ISSUED, WARNING PEOPLE TO USE EXTRA CARE. WESH 2’S DAVE MCDANIEL IS LIVE AT LAKJEE SUP WHERE IT’BEENS POSTED FOR HEALTH CONCERNS. WHAT IS THE LATEST? DAVE: ETH HEALTH DEPARTMENT TESTS LAKES TO MAKE SURE WATER ALQUITY MEETS THE MUSTER. SIGNS ARE BEING POSTED AROUND THIS AREA. THIS ONE IS THAT LAKE JESUP. TELLINGEO PPLE THAT BLUE-GREEN ALGAE IS BLOOMING AND THEY SHOULD USE CAUTION. THE WATER LOOKS FINE, BUT PEOPLE NEED TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT. >>ED TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT. IF THERE’S A BLOOM YOU’LL SEE LIKE A MAT, AND IT MAY BE LIKE A BROWNISH COLOR ON THE LAKE. DAVE: AND LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY TESTS ARE SHOWING ISSUES WITH TOXIC ALGAE IN KELA JESUP, LAKE HOWELL, AND LAKE COUNTY ANNOUNCED ISSUES WITH THE DEAD RIVER AND CANALS LEADING TO HOMES NEAR THE DEAD RIR.VE THE HEALTH CONCERNS DEPEND ON YOUR LEVEL OF CONTACT. >> THEY CAN EITHER IALNHE THE TOXINS IF THERE ARE TONXI PRODUCING BLOOMS, ANIFD THEY HAVE CONTACT WITH IT, THEY CAN HAVE SKIN IRRITATION. AND IF THEY SWALLOW ANY OF THE ALGAE WERE BLOOM THEY CAN HAVE GASTROINTESTINAL ISSUES. DAVE: HERE ARE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES. DO N DOTRINK, SWIM, WADE, USE PERSONAL WATERCRAFT, WATERSKI OR BOAT IF YOU SEE A MAT OF ALG.AE WASH YOUR SKIN AND CLOTHING WITH SOAP AND WATER IF YOU HAVE CONTACT WITH ALGAE OR DISCOLORED OR SMELLY WATER. KEEP PETS AWAY FROM AREA. MANY PEOPLE FISH THESE AREAS, SO HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. >> IF THEY CATCH FISH NEAR A BLOOM, THEY NEED TO RINSE VERY WELL, GUT THE FISH, FILET IT, RINSE THE FILETS AND COOK THEM THOROUGHLY. DAVE: HEAT AND FERTILIZER RUFFNO INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF ALGAE. AS RAIN FALLS, REDUCINTHG E WATER TEERMPATURE LAKE, WATER QUALITY OFTEN IMPRES. ALGAE IS COMMON BUT ONLY A TEST FOR BACTERIA CAN CONFIRM IT MAY BE HMFAR.UL EVEN BEING NEAR THE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE CAN CAUSE RESPIRATORY ISSU. IFOU Y WITNESS ANY BLUE-GREEN ALGAE FLOATING O

The Florida Department of Health in Lake County is warning residents not to drink or swim in one of its waterways. Officials found the presence of blue-green algae bloom in the Dead River, a residential canal south of US 441.The bloom was found after a sample was taken on June 9. Visitors and residents are advised not to drink, swim, wade or use a personal watercraft where there is visible algae bloom. Health officials also advise you to wash your skin or clothing with soap and water if you come in contact with algae or discolored, smelly water. The algae bloom makes waters unsafe for animals. Pets should be kept away from the area and livestock will need to have a different source of water when the blooms are present. Officials warn boiling water will not get rid of the toxins from the algae bloom.You can eat fish caught in the water, but officials say to rinse the fish fillets with tap or bottled water and throw out guts before cooking the fish well. Blue-green algae are common in Florida’s freshwater environment. A bloom leads to the rapid growth of algae that leads to the accumulation of cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors.To learn more about the blooms, click here.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. —

The Florida Department of Health in Lake County is warning residents not to drink or swim in one of its waterways.

Officials found the presence of blue-green algae bloom in the Dead River, a residential canal south of US 441.

The bloom was found after a sample was taken on June 9.

Visitors and residents are advised not to drink, swim, wade or use a personal watercraft where there is visible algae bloom. Health officials also advise you to wash your skin or clothing with soap and water if you come in contact with algae or discolored, smelly water.

The algae bloom makes waters unsafe for animals. Pets should be kept away from the area and livestock will need to have a different source of water when the blooms are present.

Officials warn boiling water will not get rid of the toxins from the algae bloom.

You can eat fish caught in the water, but officials say to rinse the fish fillets with tap or bottled water and throw out guts before cooking the fish well.

Blue-green algae are common in Florida’s freshwater environment. A bloom leads to the rapid growth of algae that leads to the accumulation of cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors.

To learn more about the blooms, click here.

Health department issues alert after harmful toxins found in Lake County waterway

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