This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Members of the public and their animals should stay out of Big East Lake in Utah County, health officials warn.
Recent test results and monitoring have led the Utah County Health Department to adjust its warnings about algal blooms in the county's bodies of water.
The department has adjusted the Big East Lake's advisory to "danger," which "is essentially a closure, as people and animals should not be in or on the lake," said Ralph Clegg, the department's executive director, in a news release.
Algae is natural in many freshwater ecosystems, but certain conditions can lead to large algal blooms. The blooms can contain cyanobacteria, which produce toxins that can be harmful, the release states.
Officials are giving all other Payson Lakes — and all Utah Lake marinas and areas — a "caution" warning.
"While the cyanobacteria cell counts are decreasing in Utah Lake, the toxin counts in Big East Lake pose a risk to the public and animals," Clegg said.
Symptoms of cyanotoxin poisoning include abdominal pain, nausea, fever and diarrhea. Some individuals have skin reactions similar to allergies. Residents concerned about exposure should call their doctor or the Utah Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222. Potential exposure to animals should be discussed with a veterinarian.
County health officials will continue to monitor and test water showing signs of algal blooms, with the help of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, the release states.