Health advisory issued for Sagle Slough
A public health advisory was issued for Sagle Slough and Comeback Bay after water quality monitoring confirmed the presence of cyanobacteria, which can cause health concerns.
(Photo courtesy PANHANDLE HEALTH DISTRICT)
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SAGLE — A public health advisory has been issued for the Sagle Slough and Comeback Bay.
In announcing the advisory Wednesday, Panhandle Health District and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality officials urged the public to use caution when recreating in or near the water, especially where ingestion is a risk.
Water quality monitoring confirmed the presence of cyanobacteria, also known as a harmful algae bloom or blue-green algae, Katherine Hoyer, PHD public information officer, said. The cyanobacteria was observed by DEQ officials on Tuesday, Aug. 3 along the shoreline with the bloom in the entire water body from Comeback Bay to where it meets the mouth at Lake Pend Oreille.
"Caution should be taken anywhere where the water appears discolored or murky as HABs can spread or move with wind and water currents," Hoyer said in a press release. "HABs have the potential to produce dangerous toxins especially when accumulated in high concentrations."
Hoyer said the physical appearance of the blooms can be unsightly, often presenting as discolored water, streaks or globs of scum and causing thick green mats along lake shorelines. Pets, children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are most at-risk of harmful exposure, she said.
Anyone recreating in the Sagle Slough/Comeback Bay area is advised to take precautions to avoid exposure to lake water appearing to contain a HAB. In addition, Hoyer said private domestic water system owners utilizing the lake as a drinking water source are cautioned that toxins that are potentially present cannot be removed by boiling or filtering the water. If contact (swimming, bathing, or showering) has been made with water containing a HAB, it is recommended to wash off with fresh water, she added.
If people choose to eat fish from the lake, it is recommended that they remove all fat, skin and organs before cooking, since toxins are more likely to collect in those tissues, Hoyer said.
Symptoms of exposure to algal toxins vary according to exposure, Hoyer said. Symptoms include rashes, hives, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, and/or wheezing. More severe symptoms affecting the liver and nervous system may result from ingestion of water. If symptoms persist, residents should consult with their health care provider.
The public will be advised when the concern no longer exists.
Updated information on harmful algae blooms can be found online at bit.ly/2VtBmOI .