Healthy Advisory Issued for Lake Winnebago Eastern Shore: Blue-Green Algae Blooms

Calumet County Public Health is issuing a health advisory effective immediately for the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago due to widespread blue-green algae blooms. Calumet County Public Health has received multiple reports of large blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms forming along the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago, particularly from Calumet County Park to Stockbridge Harbor. Some species of blue-green algae can produce toxins that can make humans and animals ill.

Calumet County Public Health and the Wisconsin Departments of Health and Natural Resources are working together to identify areas of the lake experiencing a bloom and posting health advisory signage at public access points. Aerial photographs show Lake Winnebago experiencing an active bloom.

Blooms are fueled by sunlight, warm water temperatures, stagnant water conditions, and ample nutrients. Illness can occur after swallowing water contaminated with algae, inhaling water droplets, or by skin contact with contaminated water or algal scum. Symptoms of related illness in humans commonly include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, respiratory irritation, wheezing, eye irritation, and itchy rash, hives, or blisters on the skin. In animals, symptoms of illness include weakness, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and can even cause death. Symptoms typically begin within minutes to hours of exposure.

"The current algae bloom along the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago has the potential to cause illness in humans and animals," according to Zak Van Ooyen, Calumet County Health Officer. "While high concentrations of cyanobacteria increase the likelihood of adverse health effects, it is impossible to tell if a bloom is toxic just by looking at it."

Citizens are urged to take a commonsense approach and evaluate the water conditions before letting family members or pets enter the water. Avoid water that:

• looks like pea soup or spilled paint
• is discolored or has colored streaks
• has surface scums, mats, or films
• has green dots or globs floating beneath the surface

To reduce the risk of inhaling water droplets, citizens should avoid motorized boating through areas experiencing a bloom and should also avoid watering their lawns from bodies of water experiencing an algae bloom.

With warm summer temperatures expected to continue for many more weeks, water conditions may support the presence of blooms for the rest of the summer. It is important to educate visitors to the area on the health hazards associated with algae blooms and to evaluate water quality every time you head to the lake. As a rule, do not enter a body of water where you cannot see your feet in knee-deep water. If you or your pet encounter water affected by algae blooms, immediately rinse off the contaminated water. Before you head to the lake, please visit our website, www.calumetcounty.org/PublicHealth, to check the status of the health advisory.

If you or your pet develops an illness you think might be related to blue-green algae, talk to your physician or veterinarian right away. Also, please notify the Wisconsin Division of Public Health by filling out a survey at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/water/bg-algae/index.htm or calling 608-266-1120.

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