SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Health Department is alerting residents and visitors of toxic blue-green algae found in a Seminole County Lake.
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The alert is in response to a water sample taken at Lake Jesup on July 26.
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Health officials said people should take extra precautions due to the danger of the toxic waters that may impact their health, including the following:
-Do not drink, swim, wade, or use personal watercraft, water skis, or boats 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.
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·-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.
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Blue-green algae blooms can impact human health and ecosystems, including fish and other aquatic animals.
Some environmental factors that contribute to blue-green algae blooms are sunny days, warm water temperatures, still water conditions, and excess nutrients.
Blooms can appear year-round but are more frequent in summer.
Many types of blue-green algae can produce toxins.
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