LOUISA COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Virginia Department of Health has issued a swimming advisory for the northwestern part of Lake Anna in Louisa County due to a harmful algae bloom.
According to the department, the advisory is due to the presence of a harmful algae called cyanobacteria, which can cause skin rashes and gastrointestinal illness. The specific areas of the lake in which the harmful algae is present can be seen on this map.
The department urges visitors to the lake to stay out of the water in the affected area but says boating in the area is allowed as long as the proper precautions are taken. The department asks Virginians to take the following steps to avoid coming into contact with harmful toxins from algae:
Avoid contact with any area of the lake where water is green or an advisory sign is posted,
WHEN IN DOUBT, STAY OUT!
Never allow children or pets to drink from natural bodies of water.
Keep children and pets out of the areas experiencing a harmful algae bloom and quickly wash them off with plenty of fresh, clean water after coming into contact with algae scum or bloom water.
Seek medical/veterinarian care if you or your animals experience symptoms after swimming in or near an algal bloom.
Properly clean fish by removing skin and discarding all internal organs and cooking fish to the proper temperature to ensure fish fillets are safe to eat.
Contact the Harmful Algal Bloom Hotline at 1-888-238-6154 if you suspect toy have experienced health-related effects following exposure to a bloom.
Visit SwimHealthyVA.com to learn more about harmful algae blooms or to report an algae bloom or fish kill.
The department said the affected area of the lake will be tested again during the week of July 15 to determine if harmful levels of algae are still present.
This advisory comes just a few weeks after several people who swam in Lake Anna were infected with E. coli, but the department said these two incidents are not related.
LOUISA COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Virginia Department of Health has issued a swimming advisory for the northwestern part of Lake Anna in Louisa County due to a harmful algae bloom.
According to the department, the advisory is due to the presence of a harmful algae called cyanobacteria, which can cause skin rashes and gastrointestinal illness. The specific areas of the lake in which the harmful algae is present can be seen on this map.
The department urges visitors to the lake to stay out of the water in the affected area but says boating in the area is allowed as long as the proper precautions are taken. The department asks Virginians to take the following steps to avoid coming into contact with harmful toxins from algae:
Avoid contact with any area of the lake where water is green or an advisory sign is posted,
WHEN IN DOUBT, STAY OUT!
Never allow children or pets to drink from natural bodies of water.
Keep children and pets out of the areas experiencing a harmful algae bloom and quickly wash them off with plenty of fresh, clean water after coming into contact with algae scum or bloom water.
Seek medical/veterinarian care if you or your animals experience symptoms after swimming in or near an algal bloom.
Properly clean fish by removing skin and discarding all internal organs and cooking fish to the proper temperature to ensure fish fillets are safe to eat.
Contact the Harmful Algal Bloom Hotline at 1-888-238-6154 if you suspect toy have experienced health-related effects following exposure to a bloom.
Visit SwimHealthyVA.com to learn more about harmful algae blooms or to report an algae bloom or fish kill.
The department said the affected area of the lake will be tested again during the week of July 15 to determine if harmful levels of algae are still present.
This advisory comes just a few weeks after several people who swam in Lake Anna were infected with E. coli, but the department said these two incidents are not related.