February 24, 2023

SANFORD – The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County has extended the Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Jesup. The alert is in response to water sample taken on February 21, 2023 and is in effect through March 23, 2023. The public should exercise caution in and around lakes 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 wherethere is a visible bloom.
• Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae ordiscolored or smelly water.
• Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe foranimals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae bloomsare 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 from waters with algae blooms.