June 18, 2021
Lake Okaro closed by algal bloom
Toi Te Ora Public Health has issued a health warning for Lake Ōkaro, the smallest of the Rotorua lakes under public management, after recent tests confirmed algal bloom.
Medical Officer of Health Phil Shoemack says people should avoid any contact with water at the lake and at Lake Rotoehu, where a bloom formed last November.
Contact with water affected by blue-green algal blooms can cause asthma and hayfever attacks in some individuals.
It can also cause skin rashes, stomach upsets, and in some cases neurological effects such as tingling around the mouth, headaches, breathing difficulties and visual problems.
Lake Okaro south of Rotorua near Waimangu is surrounded by farmland and is popular for recreational activities such as trout fishing and water-skiing.
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