The Louisiana Department of Health is warning residents to stay away from water where blue-green algae blooms are visible or suspected after a bloom was identified in Henderson Lake.
LDH announced Thursday that satellite imagery confirmed the presence of a cyanobacteria bloom in the lake. Although not all algae are dangerous, some types of cyanobacteria can produce toxins capable of making people and animals sick. Testing is necessary to determine whether a particular bloom contains those toxins.
The warning is not limited to Henderson Lake. LDH is urging people across Louisiana to recognize the signs of algal blooms and use caution in lakes, rivers and other waterways where they appear…