A health advisory has been issued for Odell Lake due to a toxic blue-green algae bloom. Toxic blooms can be harmful for both humans and animals if ingested.
Rebecca Hillwig with the Oregon Health Authority says those who draw in-home water from the affected area are advised to use an alternative water source.
“Home-style filters like that that people use in their homes or their cabins – they do not reduce the toxins," says Hillwig. “Nor are they able to, a lot of times, actually filter out the cells because the cells are pretty small. So we ask or recommend that they not drink from those systems until the bloom is gone.”
People should also avoid activities that could lead to accidental water ingestion, such as swimming or fishing. Typical symptoms of toxin exposure are similar to those of food poisoning. However, other symptoms including numbness and dizziness that can lead to breathing and heart problems require immediate medical attention.
For more information about algae blooms in Oregon visit the OHA Harmful Algae Blooms page.