Dr Wall recommended that where cyanobacteria health warnings were in place, lakes should not be used for any recreational activity that involved contact with the water.
“Swallowing water from lakes affected by blooms should also be avoided.”
Cyanobacteria can release toxins that can trigger asthma and hay fever symptoms and could cause skin rashes, stomach upsets, and in some cases neurological effects such as tingling around the mouth, headaches, breathing difficulties and visual problems.
Those symptoms might not appear until some time after contact with the affected water.
“If people do come into contact with the lake when warnings are in place, or any other lake where there are visible changes to water colour, they should shower and change their clothing as soon as possible afterwards, even if no symptoms are noticeable.”
Dog owners should prevent their dogs from drinking or swimming in the water, as dogs were particularly sensitive to cyanobacteria.
Te Whatu Ora Public Health Unit for Waikato asks people to report any health problems that developed after exposure to any of Waikato lakes.
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