CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Clay County has issued a health alert after harmful blue-green algae toxins were detected in Doctors Lake-Center and Salt Myrtle Lane.
The alert follows water samples collected Sept. 22 and 23. Residents and visitors are urged to use caution in and around both waterways.
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People should not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft or come into contact with water where a visible algae bloom is present. Anyone who comes into contact with algae, discolored water or water with an unpleasant smell should wash their skin and clothing with soap and water.
Pets and livestock should be kept away from affected water and provided with an alternative source of drinking water. People should not cook with or use contaminated water to clean dishes. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
Fish fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing algae blooms are safe to eat if they are rinsed with tap or bottled water, the guts are discarded and the fish is cooked thoroughly, the health department said. Shellfish from waters with algae blooms should not be eaten.
Blue-green algae are bacteria commonly found in Florida’s freshwater environments. Blooms may appear as scum, foam or paint on the water’s surface and can vary in color. They can also discolor water and produce floating mats with unpleasant odors. The algae may be present even when a bloom is not visible.
Children, older adults and people who are immunocompromised may be at risk even at low toxin concentrations and should avoid exposure. Blue-green algae toxins can harm people, pets, fish and other aquatic animals.
Algae blooms can be reported to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection online or by calling 1-855-305-3903. Anyone experiencing symptoms after exposure to a harmful algae bloom or other aquatic toxin should call the Florida Poison Information Center at 800-222-1222.
Pet owners who believe an animal became ill after contact with contaminated water should contact a veterinarian. Dead, diseased or abnormally behaving fish or wildlife should be reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission online or at 800-636-0511.
Additional health questions can be directed to the Florida Department of Health in Clay County at 904-278-3784.
