A toxic blue-green algae bloom has been found in Mishnock Lake in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, officials said Thursday. The state Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management advised people to avoid all contact with the lake.
The blue-green algae can cause rashes, stomachache, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, headache, and fever. In pets, the symptoms include loss of energy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and any unexplained sickness that occurs within a day or so after being in contact with water. Officials said people and pets who come into contact with the water should rinse themselves and their pets off as soon as possible.
Anyone who comes into contact with blue-green algae is urged to contact their health care provider. Symptoms of blue-green algae poisoning can appear within minutes or hours after exposure. People who are experiencing these symptoms in the days following contact with blue-green algae should contact their health care provider.
Officials said that blue-green algae blooms may affect other bodies of water in the state. They asked residents to avoid contact with any water bodies that have bright green coloration in the water or dense floating algal mats on the water’s surface.
Anyone who suspects a blue-green algae bloom can contact the DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 222-4700 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
