Lake Monroe health alert

IMPORTANT ! ALERT ..... LAKE MONROE FISHERMEN


The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins discovered in the center of Lake Monroe.This is in response to a water sample taken on Dec. 21, 2023. The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Monroe.


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 to the appropriate temperature.


Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.


What is blue-green algae?


Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria that is common in Florida’s freshwater environments. A bloom occurs when rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors.
Is it harmful?


Blue-green algae blooms can impact human health and ecosystems, including fish and other aquatic animals.


For additional information on potential health effects of algal blooms, visit floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/aquatic-toxins.


Contact your veterinarian if you believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with blue-green algae contaminated water.


If you have other health questions or concerns about blue-green algae blooms, please call the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County at (386) 274-0694

Thanks Steve, good info.