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1. Can HABs cause illness in animals?

Yes. State veterinarians have confirmed several cases of dog deaths due to harmful algal bloom toxins within the state of Kansas. When a HAB is present, pets should not be allowed near the shore where decaying algae may be visible. Ingesting enough toxin, either through drinking the water, licking the affected water or algae from their fur or paws, or eating the decaying algae, could lead to illness or death. Horses and cattle are also very susceptible to toxins due to the quantity of water they consume, and they should not drink water from ponds or lakes with a blue-green algae bloom. Pets and livestock should not be allowed in or near ponds or lakes with a blue-green algae bloom.

If a bloom is suspected, take the following precautions for your livestock and animals:

• Train dogs to come to you for a drink of water and, carry potable water for your dogs when out hunting or going for walks along the shoreline.
• Don't let your dog(s) retrieve waterfowl swimming in a waterbody affected by a HAB.
• Move livestock to an alternate source of water.

2. What should I do if I accidentally get water from a HAB on my skin?

Remove jewelry, watches, clothing, and other items that are in contact with the skin, and wash them thoroughly. Wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water. Wash exposed clothing, keeping it separate from non-affected clothing. If rashes or other symptoms occur, seek medical attention immediately.

3. What if I or my pets get ill and suspect it was from exposure to a HAB?

Please consult your physician or veterinarian immediately. Let them know exactly when, where, and how the suspected or known exposure occurred, and ask them to review symptoms. There are no antidotes to algal toxins, but there may be treatment options. Physicians and veterinarians are asked to report all human and animal harmful algae-related illnesses to KDHE, but members of the public may do so as well. The KDHE Bureau of Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics (BEPHI) investigates reports of illness from blue-green algae bloom exposure. If an illness complaint states that exposure occurred at a Kansas body of water that has not been sampled for HABs, BEPHI completes a blue-green algae bloom investigation request for the lake.

Illness reports can be submitted at:

• Human Illness Form
• Animal Illness Form

4. Is it safe to go fishing and eat the fish I catch?

Where a HAB is present, avoid coming into contact with lake water as much as possible. Rinse fish with potable water prior to cleaning. Discard entrails and other body parts, and consume only the fillet portion. There have been some studies indicating that consumption of fish from lakes with high toxin levels should be limited, even if the consumption is of fillet only. In the case where a lake is posted as "Closed," fishing should not be allowed on the waterbody.