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Blue-green algae bloom spotted at Lac Ste. Anne and Lac La Nonne

Contact with cyanobacteria can cause variety of symptoms like skin irritation and nausea
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Pope Francis will be joined by thousands of people when he visits the Lac Ste. Anne pilgrimage this week.

BARRHEAD — Days ahead of a planned visit by Pope Francis to the Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued an advisory warning of a blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) bloom at Lac Ste. Anne. 

The AHS release acknowledges that the lake is of “high significance to many people” and will be visited by large crowds during the Papal visit, which is set to begin with the Pope’s arrival in Edmonton on July 24. 

“We are working closely with organizers of the visit to ensure that people can reduce their risk if they choose to visit the lake,” the release states. 

Incidentally, AHS also issued a similar advisory for Lac La Nonne on July 15. 

Blue-green algae — which is not technically algae at all, but rather a cluster of bacteria that resembles algae — is naturally occurring and often becomes visible when weather conditions are calm. 

Blue-green algae can resemble scum, grass clippings or blobs of fuzz floating on the surface of the water and often smells musty or grassy. Despite the name, the algae can be greenish-brown, brown, or pinkish-red in colour. 

People who come into direct contact with blue-green algae or who ingest water containing the bacteria may experience skin irritation, rashes, a sore throat, swollen lips, sore red eyes, fever, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. 

Symptoms usually appear within one to three hours and may take one or two days to resolve. The symptoms may be more pronounced in children and especially animals, who may require veterinary attention. 

People should not swim or wade in any areas where blue-green algae is visible, which goes for animals as well. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible. 

As fish can store toxins from cyanobacteria in their liver, visitors should not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from either lake to their pets, while human consumption of fish from the two lakes should be limited. (Consumption of fish fillets is safe.) 

And as always, people and pets should never drink or cook with untreated water from any recreational body of water. Boiling water will not remove the presence of toxins produced by blue-green algae. 

Because wind conditions can move algae blooms from one part of the lake to another, the advisory for both lakes will remain in effect until AHS lifts them. 

Further information about blue-green algae (and what to do if contact has been made) can be found at ahs.ca/bga or by calling Health Link at 8-1-1.

Kevin Berger, TownandCountryToday.com

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