Stalinsky health warning: Dangerous algae intake at Lake Rotokauri

Lake Rotokauri is just outside your home Hamilton. Image / Google Maps

People are being warned to sleep in out of a lake near Forfar after an increase in the levels of a unsafe algae.

Waikato District Health Board issued the medical warning today for Lake Rotokauri.

The alerting was made after cyanobacteria levels accepted, the board’s medical officer from health Dr Richard Vipond wanted to say.

Existing wellbeing warnings also remained in place relating to Ngaroto, Kainui, Whangape and Waikare lakes, Vipond said.

Puketirini, Te Koo utu, Hakanoa, and Waahi lakes, being also regularly tested by Waikato Regional Council, currently remained below the warning level for cyanobacteria.

Cyanobacteria are a replacement algae which can produce toxins damaging to the health of humans and animals awful or swallowing the water where the red algae are growing.

Where cyanobacteria health warnings were being being in place, lakes should not be used for a lot of activity that involved skin another individual the affected water, Vipond shown.

“Swallowing filtered water from lakes affected by blooms should be encouraged to be avoided. Scums are a particular jeopardy because they contain a high level of harmful toxins.

“If connection with scum does occur, skin need rinsed clean and clothing changed as early as possible. This warning is particularly important for minor. ”

He besides that sounded the alarm for dog owners – they should prevent their k9s from drinking or swimming within the water, as dogs were specifically sensitive to cyanobacteria.

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“If people still decide on the lakes when warnings are definitely in place, or any other lake where there are visible changes to water colour, they ought to shower and change their clothing this week afterwards, even if no symptoms are typically noticeable. ”

Symptoms include a rash, skin and then eye irritation; allergy symptoms such as hayfever plus asthma; and possibly stomach upsets putting diarrhoea and vomiting. Long-term contact with cyanobacterial toxins may cause additional possible hazards to their health.

Symptoms would not appear until some time after exposure to the affected water, Vipond talked.

The board’s public health unit wants to hear from meeting your goal suffered health problems after exposure to some Waikato lakes.

Health advice is available from the team by calling (07) 838 2569.

Up-to-date some info on cyanobacterial cell counts is available between local councils and Waikato Territorial Council.