Health advisory in place for Lac La Biche Lake after

A blue-green algae advisory is currently in place for Lac La Biche Lake, with health officials warning against contact with visible blooms.

LAC LA BICHE - People going near and into the waters of Lac La Biche should be cautious after a blue-green algae health advisory was released on Tuesday. On July 14, Alberta Health Services said a cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) bloom and/or toxins had been identified in the waters of Lac La Biche Lake. Residents living near the shores of this lake, as well as visitors, are advised to take the following precautions: - Do not swim or wade in any areas where cyanobacterial blooms are visible.

- Avoid all contact with cyanobacterial blooms in the water and washed up on shore. Wash with clean tap water as soon as possible if contact occurs. - Do not drink or cook with water from this lake.

- Do not eat whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake as fish may store toxins in their liver. Fish fillets contain less toxins and are safer to eat. - Keep pets away from the water.

Do not allow pets to swim in areas where cyanobacterial blooms are visible or to contact blooms in the water or on the shore. - Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to your pets. Waters of Lac La Biche Lake where the cyanobacterial bloom is not visible can still be used for recreational purposes, according to AHS.

But, people are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from a body of water. Boiling the water will not remove the toxins produced by cyanobacteria. "An alternate

Source and reference

source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock while this advisory is active," according to AHS. "People who come in contact with a cyanobacterial bloom or who ingest water containing cyanobacteria may experience skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. Symptoms can appear within one to three hours and resolve in one to two days. Symptoms in children are often more pronounced; however, all people are at risk of these symptoms. Exposure to cyanobacteria may be fatal to pets," reads the advisory. The blooms can also move to different areas of the lake, depending on weather. The advisory will remain in effect for Lac La Biche Lake until further notice.

Read original source

Why this matters locally

This environment story matters locally because it may affect readers, businesses, commuters, families, or public services in British Columbia.

Local impact

BC Post links this item to British Columbia coverage so readers can follow related city updates, weather, traffic, events, and category news in one place.

Timeline