Florida Department of Health issues warning about algal toxins in Doctors Lake ahead of holiday weekend

Although Independence Day weekend could be busy on the water, health officials are warning residents to be cautious in Doctors Lake and its surrounding areas.

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The Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Clay County issued a health alert after toxins from blue-green algae were found in water samples from Doctors Lake-Mill Cove.

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The public should exercise caution when entering the water in this area.

The DOH advises residents and visitors to take the following precautions:

• Do not drink, swim, wade, use watercraft, or come into contact with water where visible mold growth is present.

• Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you come into contact with algae or discolored or unpleasant-smelling water.

• Keep pets and livestock away from the area to avoid any contact with water. Water bodies where algal blooms are present are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should use an alternative water source during algal blooms.

• Do not cook or flush with water contaminated by algal blooms. Boiling the water will not remove the toxins.

• It is safe to eat fillets of healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes where a fish bloom is present.

• Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, discard the entrails and cook the fish thoroughly.

• Do not eat shellfish in waters with algal blooms.

For more information about the potential health effects of algal blooms, visit the DOH’s Harmful Algal Blooms webpage.

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