The Florida Department of Health in Sumter County is cautioning the public about the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Panasoffkee.
The health alert was issued Thursday, and water sample testing is currently underway.
Blue-green algae have the potential to produce toxins. Because environmental conditions can change at any time, health officials say it is important for the public to exercise caution, even if the presence of toxins has not yet been confirmed.
Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:
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Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft or come into contact with waters where there is a visible bloom.
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Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have any contact with algae, or discolored or unpleasant-smelling water.
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Keep pets and livestock away from the area to avoid any contact with the water. Pets and livestock should use an alternative source of water when algae blooms are present.
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Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate toxins.
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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 thoroughly.
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Do not eat shellfish from waters with algae blooms.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and its partners collect algae samples from reported bloom locations. Once the samples are analyzed, the toxin results can be viewed on the Protecting Florida Together website or on the DEP’s Algal Bloom Dashboard.