'Avoid all contact': Strathmore residents, visitors told to avoid areas of Eagle Lake
Health officials are advising nearby residents and visitors take precautions because of the presence of blue-green algae in a Strathmore lake.
The bloom of cyanobacteria, which looks like scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the surface of the water, can cause skin irritation, sore, red eyes and rashes in those that come into contact with it.
Anyone who manages to ingest infected water may experience a sore throat, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea.
"Symptoms usually appear within one to three hours and resolve in one to two days," Alberta Health Services (AHS) said in a release.
"Symptoms in children are often more pronounced; however, all humans are at risk of these symptoms.
"Exposure to the bacteria may be fatal to pets."
As a result of the presence of the algae, AHS says everyone must stay out of the water until further notice.
"Avoid all contact with blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible," officials said.
Whole fish and fish trimmings from Eagle Lake should not be fed to pets and people should consider limiting what they eat from it.
Albertans should not drink or cook with any untreated water taken directly from any recreational lake and boiling the water will not remove the toxins produced by the blue-green algae, AHS says.
The water should not be used on edible plants either.
"This is particularly important for plants with edible parts exposed to the ground surface (such as cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, and other salad vegetables)," AHS said.
Any location where the bloom is not visible is safe for recreational purposes, but AHS says the bloom could move from one location to another because of weather or wind.
More information on blue-green algae can be found online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.
Humanist group threatening to sue Vancouver over council prayers
The B.C. Humanist Association has threatened legal action against the City of Vancouver for allowing prayers at council, following a similar warning issued earlier this month to a smaller community on Vancouver Island.
LHSC performs a Canadian first in robot-assisted direct lateral spine surgery
Spine surgery may never be the same for people with chronic back pain and other physical ailments.