KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. — Health officials in Kalamazoo County are warning residents about a potentially dangerous algal bloom in Austin Lake in Portage after water samples came back positive for a harmful toxin.
The Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department, working with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, issued the advisory Wednesday after samples collected May 27 tested positive for microcystin, a type of cyanobacteria that can release toxins into the water.
Exposure to the contaminated water can cause skin irritation, stomach issues and respiratory symptoms. In serious cases, the toxins can lead to neurological symptoms or organ damage…