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Blue Green Algae alert issued for Orange River – Manatee Park

The Department of Health advises precaution in and around the area.
blue-green algae Lee CO vote
Posted at 2:28 PM, Jul 01, 2021
and last updated 2021-07-01 14:28:30-04

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Lee County’s Department of Health has issued a health alert for the presence of blue-green algal toxins in Orange River – Manatee Park.

The alert is in response to a water sample that was taken on June 24, and the Department of Health encourages everyone to exercise caution in and around Orange River – Manatee Park.

It is advised to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae, or discolored and/or smelly water.
  • Keep pets away from the area as water with present algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
  • 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 freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

For more information, visit the Florida’s Department of Health’s website.