A blue-green algae advisory has been issued for Winagami Lake.
Alberta Health Services says cyanobacteria has been identified in its waters and is encouraging people in the area to take precautions.
Coming in contact with the blooms or ingesting water containing the algae can cause skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
AHS recommends avoiding all contact with blue-green algae blooms, not feeding whole fish or trimmings to pets, and limiting human consumption of fish from this lake.
If contact occurs, people should wash with tap water as soon as possible.
Visitors and residents are also reminded to never consume or cook with untreated water, as boiling the lake water won’t remove toxins produced by algae.
Areas of the lake without blue-green algae blooms are still safe for recreational use, however, strong winds can cause these blooms to move around the lake.
– Kyle Moore, Trending 55 Newsroom
