Just days before a small community of Lake Alberta submerged people around the world, a health advisory has been issued for the body of water Pope Francis scheduled to visit.
on Thursday, Alberta Health Services issued blue green algae Advice for (cyanobacteria) Lakh st. anne,
Pope is set to visit the lake northeast of Edmonton next Tuesday, although he is not expected to enter the waters.
Every year a big pilgrimage is held there.
“We recognize that this lake is of great importance to many people, and we expect a larger number of people to visit it next week as part of the Pope’s visit,” the AHS said.
“We are working closely with the organizers of the trip to ensure that people can reduce their risk if they choose to visit the lake.”
The site coordinator for the Pope’s visit told Global News earlier this week that wash stations would be available on site for Tuesday’s event.
Andrew Ehrkamp, spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton, said Thursday: “The health and safety of all who attend the pilgrimage is a top priority.”
“There has been no change in the Pope’s itinerary.
“The Archdiocese is working with the provincial, federal and county governments to make the Holy Father’s Journey a success.”
Lakh st. Anne is considered a sacred place for some indigenous peoples and is known as a healing site.
The lake is an annual pilgrimage destination, which reached nearly 40,000 people in 2019 – a year before it was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is to be resumed individually from July 25 to 28 this year.
Blue-green algae are naturally occurring and often appear when weather conditions are calm.
Weather and wind conditions can cause algae blooms to move from one location to another in the lake. Due to this, Advisor Will be in effect for all Lac Stes. Anne, AHS said until further notice.
Appearing as scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the surface of the water, the bacteria can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown and/or pinkish-red and often have a musty or grassy odor.
The AHS is warning of blue-green algae advisories in place in several Alberta lakes.
File/Global News
The AHS states that people should not drink or cook with untreated water directly from a recreational lake in Alberta and that as long as the advisory is active, pets should also not drink from affected lakes.
The health authority said boiling the lake water would not remove the toxins produced by the blue-green algae.
People who come into contact with visible blue-green algae blooms may experience skin irritation, rash, sore throat, red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. The AHS said symptoms usually appear within one to three hours and get better in one to two days.
The AHS said areas of the lake where blue-green algae blooms are not visible can still be used for recreational purposes, even if health advisories are in effect.
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