IDHW: Residents, pet owners should be wary of algae blooms during water recreation

With summer officially here, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is reminding Idahoans to be safe and protect pets when recreating in and around water because of harmful algal blooms.

Cyanobacteria, which are naturally occurring aquatic organisms, can produce toxins that affect human health and the environment under certain conditions, an IDHW news release said.

Humans and animals can be exposed to cyanotoxins by swimming in or swallowing water impacted by a bloom or consuming fish caught in affected waterbodies, the news release states. Swallowing water impacted by a bloom can cause stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. Direct skin contact may also cause skin and eye irritation.

Pets, livestock and wildlife are especially prone to cyanobacteria exposure because they are more likely to swim in or drink affected water, the news release states. If your pet or livestock is exposed to water containing a suspected or confirmed bloom, they should be washed immediately with freshwater and soap, IDHW said. Do not let them lick their fur.

Additionally, pet or livestock owners should seek veterinary care immediately if their animals seem or appear sick after going in or near water.

While harmful algal blooms can vary in appearance, they often look like pea soup, grass clippings, spilled paint, mats, green or blue-green foam, or dense surface scum, IDHW said. Some blooms may produce a foul odor.

Here are safety tips provided by IDHW that can help residents and pets stay safe this summer:

Check the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Recreational Water Health Advisories Map

for active health advisories before visiting Idaho’s water bodies. Following health advisories can help residents reduce their chance of exposure and potential illness.Report a suspected bloom online or at

algae@deq.idaho.gov

.Check the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Bloom

web page

for current water quality sampling data.When in doubt, stay out and keep your pets and livestock out of the water.Avoid water that smells bad, looks discolored, or has foam, scum, mats or paint-like streaks on the surface.Do not drink or cook with water containing a bloom. Boiling or filtering the water does not remove the toxins and can increase the risk.