BONNYVILLE - Blue-green algae blooms, also known as cyanobacteria) have made an appearance on Moose Lake, and as a result, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued a health advisory for the water body.
Blue-green algae is naturally occurring and often becomes visible when weather conditions are calm. It can look like scum, grass clippings, or fuzz or globs on the water's surface and is blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, and/or pinkish-red in colour. It often smells rusty or grassy.
Those visiting or living on the lakeshore are being advised by AHS to avoid all contact with the blue-green algae blooms. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible.
People and pets are not to swim or wade in the water where cyanobacteria is visible, notes AHS.
AHS also advises the public not to consume whole fish or fish trimmings from the lake, however, fish filets are safe.
"As always, visitors and residents are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water, including Moose Lake, at any time. Boiling of this water will not remove the toxins produced by blue-green algae. An alternate source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock, while this advisory is active," AHS states in a release.
Those who come into contact with the algae may experience a rash, red, eyes, sore throat, swollen lips, fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
"Symptoms usually appear within one to three hours and resolve in one to two days. Symptoms in children are often more pronounced; however, all humans are at risk of these symptoms," AHS warns.
Due to the nature of the blooms, which will shift around the lake depending on weather and wind conditions, the advisory will remain in effect for Moose Lake until further notice.
AHS notes that areas of the lake where the blue-green algae blooms aren't visible can still be used for recreational purposes, even while the health advisory is in place.
Meagan MacEachern, Bonnyville Nouvelle
