Health alert issued for blue-green algae in Caloosahatchee River at North Shore Park

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae in the Caloosahatchee River at North Shore Park in North Fort Myers.

The alert is in response to a water sample taken on Monday. FDOH-Lee says the public should exercise caution in and around the Caloosahatchee River at North Shore Park.

The good news is that the blue-green algae bloom is minimal and you can’t even see it on the surface.

Victor Reverendo, a former EPA employee said, “I would never. If I’m going to the water, I’m going to Fort Myers beach or further away.”

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 in which algae blooms are present 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 fish well.
• Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.