BCCDC reminds of health risks for people, pets in blue-green algae blooms
As weather heats up, many people want to head to the nearest beach or lake to cool off, but the BC Centre for Disease Control is reminding people to be mindful of a health risk: blue-green algae.
A blue-green algae warning sign is pictured at Thetis Lake in this file photo. As weather heats up, many people want to head to the nearest beach or lake to cool off, but the BC Centre for Disease Control is reminding people to be mindful of a health risk: blue-green algae. Currently on Vancouver Island, there are three beaches withblue-green algae warningsissued by Island Health: Prior Lake, Thetis Lake and Beaver Lake. READ MORE:Blue-green algae alerts in effect for Prior Lake, Thetis Lake main beach, Beaver Lake alert remainsThe BCCDC says that rising temperatures in the summer months makes the blooms more common. The blooms are caused by cyanobacteria, which can produce toxins that are poisonous to people, livestock, pets and wildlife. Exposure to the bacteria can have health effects ranging from mild to severe for people. Mild symptoms can include diarrhea, dizziness and skin irritation. More severe illness can affect the nervous and respirator systems. In rare cases, it can lead to paralysis and death. “To prevent exposure, do not drink or bathe in contaminated water and avoid recreational activities such as swimming, wading, boating, paddleboarding, and tubing in lakes with blooms,” BCCDC says on aninformation page. “If fishing in a lake that may have a bloom, be sure to clean the fish and avoid eating the organs of the fish where the toxins may accumulate. ”For pets, livestock and other animals, BCCDC says the toxins can be “rapidly fatal. ”Exposure for pets and animals can come from drinking contaminated water, wading or playing in it, or licking their fur before being rinsed. “Never let pets or livestock drink or go into the water if blooms are visible,” BCCDC says. Blue-green algae blooms can form in any freshwater, but are more typical in warm, slow-moving or stagnant bodies of water. They can be identified by:Discoloured water (blue, green, brown, yellow, orange, red, white, or purple)Paint-like spills or brightly coloured streaks in the water or scum or oil like sheenFloating mats, fluffy green mats, round globs, or looks like grass clippingsDead animals or accumulation of algae along the shorelineBlooms may smell musty or like sewage or gasToxins can persist even after a bloom has dissipated, and blooms may occur beneath the surface. If you suspect a bloom, do not consume untreated water from the lake and know that boiling does not remove the toxins, avoid swimming and recreational activities, rinse thoroughly with clean water if contact occurs, and prevent pets and livestock from drinking the water. Laura has been working with CHEK since 2021 and is a graduate from Langara College’s journalism program. Previously she has worked at Page One Publishing and CFAX 1070. Municipal politics, housing. . . More by Laura Brougham