Health alert: Blue-green algae found in Franklin Lock

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of blue-green algae in the Franklin Lock.

The alert is due to a water sample taken on Monday.

The public is asked to exercise caution in and around Franklin Lock C43 Canal – S79 (Upstream).

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