UPDATE: Alert extended for Lake Jesup until Dec. 22nd

SANFORD – The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County has identified the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Jesup from a water sample taken on November 22, 2021.

• This extends the current health alert through December 22, 2021.
• The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Jesup where algal blooms are present

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SANFORD – The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County has identified the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Jesup.

• This is in response to a water sample taken on October 26, 2021.
• This extends the current health alert through November 25, 2021.
• The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Jesup where algal blooms are present.
• Additional information about blue-green algae and related health precautions was included in the original alert, below.

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Original Alert:

SANFORD – The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County has identified the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Jesup. This is in response to a water sample taken on September 29, 2021. This extends the current health alert through October 29. The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Jesup where algal blooms are present.. This is in response to a water sample taken on August 10, 2021. The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Howell where algal blooms are present.

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.