PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island health and environmental officials are telling people to stay out of Willow Lake at Roger Williams Park because of a harmful algae bloom, the state Department of Health said Thursday.

The Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management said all recreation on the lake, including swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking, is high-risk and should be avoided. The bloom is caused by blue-green algae, also called cyanobacteria, which occur naturally in water and can produce toxins harmful to people and animals.

Officials urged caution across all of the Roger Williams Park ponds, saying blooms can move within ponds and lakes. People should not drink untreated water or eat fish from the affected water, and pets should not drink or swim in it. The advisory remains in effect until further notice, and the state will test the water for toxins before lifting it once the bloom has cleared.

Skin contact can cause rashes, a sore throat and eye and nose irritation, the agencies said. Swallowing the water can cause stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea, and, less commonly, can affect the liver and nervous system or cause an irregular heartbeat, dizziness or seizures. Young children, pets and people with weakened immune systems or certain health conditions may be at greater risk.

Officials said anyone exposed should rinse with clean water right away and see a doctor if they feel sick, and pet owners should wash their animals and call a vet if signs of illness appear within a day. Affected water may look like green paint, pea soup or green cottage cheese, with scum along the shoreline.

Suspected blooms can be reported to the Department of Environmental Management's Office of Water Resources.

This brief was drafted by AI from a public agency or political press release and published by The New England Signal. Why we use AI for stories like this one.