Kern County Public Health urges caution of algae blooms in Lake Isabella

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Kern County Public Health is urging boaters, dog owners and other recreational Lake Isabella users to be cautious and pay attention to signs of active algae blooms.

Public Health officials said they got the results of recent water samples from 17 locations in Lake Isabella. The Hanning Flat area test results contained potentially harmful blue-green cyanotoxin algae at the cautionary level, which is the lowest of the three advisory levels.

According to Public Health officials, the Cyanobacteria can produce toxins, which can harm people, pets, livestock and wildlife.

Children and dogs are especially vulnerable to the toxin due to their smaller body size. Some of the signs of cyanobacteria toxins include: Eye irritation, skin rash, mouth ulcers, vomiting, diarrhea and flu-like symptoms

Health advisory signs have been posted to warn people to be cautious when using the lake.

Officials also released the following guidelines to protect yourself from harmful algal blooms:

• Follow posted advisories.
• Stay away from algae and scum in the water and on shore.
• Watch children and pets closely.
• Do not let pets and other animals go into the water, drink the water, or eat scum and algae accumulations on the shore.
• Wash yourself, your family and your pets with clean water after water play.
• If you catch fish, throw away guts and clean fillets with tap water or bottled water before cooking.

For more information visit, Kern Public Health’s website.

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