Alberta Health services has issued a blue-green algae algae advisory for Muriel Lake, until further notice. According to the provincial health service a blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, bloom was identified after concern was raised by residents over the lake water appearing pin-red in colour. Residents and visitors are being advised to not swim or let your animals swim in water with blue-green algae blooms, the public is also being advised to not eat or feed their pets fish from the water.
Symptoms for those who encounter the algae or who ingest it include skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea; symptoms appear within a few hours and is said to resolve in one or two days. AHS is advising the public to never drink or cook with water that is untreated and directly from a recreational body of water like Muriel Lake, and other sources of water should be available to pets while the advisory is in place. According to the health authority boiling water will not remove blue-green algae toxins.
AHS adds weather and wind conditions can move the algae around the lake, but areas where the blooms are not visible can still be used for recreation.