A health warning was released late last week from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) about an E-Coli warning for the waters and beaches at the Weigand Beach on the Nebraska side north of Crofton.
NDEE conducts weekly sampling for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), also known as toxic blue-green algae, and E. coli bacteria at 50 public recreational lakes (55 sites in all) across Nebraska from May through September and these results are updated weekly. Samples are typically collected on Monday and results are posted on the website on Friday.
The Weigand area hit figures of 1,414 colonies of E.Coli per 100ml of water, well exceeding the 235 colonies per 100ml of water that is considered “high.”
Also included in the alert was Cottonmill Swim Lake, that registered 249 colonies per 100ml of water.
“High bacteria: High readings of E. coli bacteria can also be a health concern; samples above 235 colonies per 100 ml water are considered high. Incidental ingestion of water from lakes that have recently tested high significantly increases the chance of an illness associated with ingestion of E. coli bacteria.”
When a beach is on Health Alert, it is recommended that no contact with the water occur.
Those that might be experiencing symptoms that they feel might be related, they should contact their doctor immediately, and report it to the Nebraska Regional Poison Center at 800-222-1222 for more information.
Risks from exposure to the bacteria include:
“Bacteria at swimming beaches or in the lake water can cause gastrointestinal problems (such as diarrhea) if swallowed. Typically, exposure to skin does not result in skin problems, such as rashes or swimmers’ itch. Although swallowing water can lead to flu-like symptoms, the health effects are typically not life-threatening.”