Blue-Green Algae Found In Lake Taylor - Odessa; Health Alert Issued

ODESSA, FL — The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough has issued a health alert due to the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins found in Lake Taylor - Odessa during sampling on Nov. 27.

The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Taylor -Odessa. Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

• Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
• Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
• Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
• Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
• Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook the fish to an appropriate temperature.
• Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

For questions, call the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough at 813-307-8084.