Oregon Health Authority warns of toxic bloom in Fairview Lake

A toxic bloom warning has been issued for Fairview Lake, meaning swimming, playing, drinking or fishing in the water could be deadly if certain precautions are not followed.

The Oregon Health Authority issued the recreational use health advisory Thursday, July 18, for the body of water south of Blue Lake in East Multnomah County. While the cyanobacteria bloom is not toxic to the skin, those with sensitivities could get puffy red rashes. The major route of dangerous exposure is through the ingestion of water with the bacteria.

Some ways to become exposed include:

Drinking the water — the toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating the water with camping-style filters. Anyone who uses a well or public water system that draws directly from the affected area should use alternative water sources. That ingestion could be while swimming/boating if excessive spray is caused.

Children/pets — those who are smaller size are more at risk. Dogs can get extremely ill and die within minutes of exposure by drinking water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore.

The range of symptoms if exposed to cyanotoxins often resemble food poisoning: stomach cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. More serious symptoms include numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath.

Any fish caught from Fairview Lake during the advisory could also pose risks, with the HOA recommending not eating anything from that area.