Once again, the Florida Department of Health in Lake County has issued a health alert for Lake Yale. This is the result of a water sample collected March 12 that showed the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in the lake. The alert flagging the waters as dangerous was issued last Friday.
Previous health alerts that showed the presence of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in Lake Yale were issued in response to water samples taken on Oct. 19, Sept. 11, Sept. 25 and Dec. 1, 2023, as well as Feb. 12, 2024.
Like the alert issued last month, this one specifies “Lake Yale – Center” as the area of concern.
The health department warns that the public should exercise caution in and around Lake Yale. Advice includes:
- •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.
- •Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
- •Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.
Cyanobacteria can cause rashes, headaches, stomach pain and other illnesses in people and animals, according to the CDC. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/habs.
Report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algal bloom or any aquatic toxin to the Florida Poison Information Center. Call 1-800-222-1222 to speak to a poison specialist.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection analyzes algal bloom samples. To report a bloom to DEP, call 855-305-3903 or visit https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3444948/Algal-Bloom-Reporting-Form.
