DOH-Lee issues blue-green algae alert for Caloosahatchee River-Sebastian Canal

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County issued a health alert Thursday for harmful blue-green algae toxins in the Caloosahatchee River-Sebastian Canal.

This health alert comes only days after DOH-Lee lifted a blue-green algae toxin alert for the Caloosahatchee River-Sebastian Canal on Jan. 30.

DOH-Lee listed the following precautions for residents to follow:

• Swimming, drinking, wading, using personal watercraft or coming into contact with waters where there is visible algae bloom
• Washing skin and clothes with soap and water if any contact is made with algae, or discolored water that smells unpleasant
• Keep pets and livestock away from the area to avoid contact with the water.
• Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
• Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in lakes experiencing blooms is safe, but ensure to rinse fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook the fish thoroughly.
• Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms

Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria commonly found in Florida's freshwater environments. They can produce toxins, which can be harmful to humans and pets, as well as ecosystems.

Current information about Florida's water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algae blooms can be found here.

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