Algae warning issued for Ma-Me-O Beach

Beach lovers should avoid Ma-Me-O Beach because of a toxic blue-green algae bloom, warnedAlberta HealthTuesday.

The popular beach, about 100 kilometres south of Edmonton on Pigeon Lake, is thesecond site on the lake affectedbythe algae. Pigeon Lake Provincial Park also has a bloom, as well as other spots in Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick.

Blue-green algae Cyanobacteria or "pond scum" produces apoison that can cause serious illness in humans and animals from contact or consumption.Most algae blooms are short lived, Alberta Health said, butan advisory for Baptiste Lake,west ofEdmonton,has been in place for more than two weeks.

Domestic animals such as dogs and cattle have died after ingesting the blue-green algae poison, but there are no records of human deaths.

Symptoms of poisoning in humanscan include fever, headache, dizziness, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, skin and eye irritation, sore throat and swollen lips.

If blue-green algae is present, Alberta Healthadvises:

• Do not drink the water.
• Do not swim or wade or allow your pets in the water.
• Do not eat fishfromany lake witha bloom.
• Avoid contact with dried algae on the shore.

There is a warning out forSilver Beach in Alberta, while most of the beaches in Ramsey Lake in Sudbury, Ont., have been closed by blooms, as hasthe resevoir in Moncton, N.B.