A blue-green algae advisory has been issued for Sturgeon 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. If contact occurs, people should wash with tap water as soon as possible.
AHS recommends against swimming or wading in water where the algae is visible. That also goes for pets. However, it is considered safe to be in parts of the lake where you can’t see any blooms.
Blue-green algae can look like scum, grass clippings, fuzz, or globs on the surface of water, and can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, or pinkish-red in colour. It often smells musty or grassy.nt flow.
