The blue-green algae alert season is underway, and Emporia State’s King Lake is on the first list as announced Friday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
King Lake is one of three water bodies in an algae warning to start the season. King Lake spent most of last year’s alert season in either an algae warning or an algae watch.
Algae alerts are for confirmed or likely blooms, which create several toxins that can be harmful or deadly if the algae is consumed. Toxins can be eaten, inhaled or absorbed by skin contact, with symptoms including rash, headache, sore throat, diarrhea and fever. Animals swimming in or drinking algae-infested water — or those eating dried algae — can become seriously sick or die as a result of the toxins.
More information about algae health concerns, algae reporting procedures, algae health tips and other information including an interactive map is online at kdhe.ks.gov/hab.
