Danger to people and animals: in Utah, the dog died due to toxic algae in the river - ForumDaily
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Danger to people and animals: in Utah, the dog died due to toxic algae in the river

Mom and son took their six-month-old husky puppy named Kinna for a walk in Zion National Park. They came back with a dying dog in their arms, writes USA Today. It was not possible to save the animal.

Photo: Shutterstock

Over the weekend, Independence Day, Vanessa Weichberger and her son Frances walked along the Virgin River on the Parus Trail along with hundreds of other people.

Suddenly, Kinna, the puppy the family had welcomed two months earlier as a gift for Francis' 10th birthday, began acting strangely and looking sick. After a few minutes the animal could no longer walk. The dog began to have convulsions and was clearly in pain.

Vanessa carried her in her arms. She tried to go down to the parking lot and called for help. The dog clung to the owner in agony of pain.

“It was like she was saying goodbye,” Vanessa said.

Kinna died within 20 minutes after contact with toxic algae that have recently appeared in this river and are very dangerous for people and animals.

Anatoxin-a, a cyanotoxin of the nervous system that is produced by harmful cyanobacteria, has been found in the northern part of the river. A week after the dog's death, on July 10, the Southwest Utah Department of Health issued a public health warning.

The weekly gap between Kinna’s death and the public’s warning of the danger was due to the time required for testing, although signs were quickly installed in the park warning of potential danger.

Pets are more sensitive to cyanotoxins than humans, according to the Department of Environmental Quality website. Children are at greater risk than adults.

The state's safe threshold for toxin for recreation areas is 15 micrograms per liter. Results in the affected area showed concentrations in excess of 55 micrograms per liter, nearly 4 times the threshold.

On the subject: Dangerous toxic algae discovered in two US states: the threat will increase every year

Park spokesman Jeff Axel said it was "very new and very unusual" as blooms are generally not found in turbulent rivers.

Around the affected areas were signs warning visitors not to swim, not to dive into the water and not to allow pets to be in the water.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food suggests directing livestock to another source of drinking and avoiding irrigation water. Officials say that it is necessary to clean the fish well and refuse to eat it with entrails.

Also, do not drink water, including with a cleaning filter. You cannot enter the river where you see algae.

Officials are trying to understand how this flowering has grown to such an extent and what can be done. There are only two ways in which these algae die: when reaching the end of their life cycle or in the case of a monsoon flood.

Vanessa and Frances suffered a terrible shock after losing their dog. The woman herself suffered from a severe headache for several days after contact with the algae, but now she is fine. It was especially difficult for the boy - for the first time in his life he faced death.

“She brought so much joy. Kinna was such a sweet dog, everyone loved her. This is such a moment to learn about someone’s death,” Vanessa lamented.

What is blue-green algae and why are they dangerous?

Although the blue-green substance is often called algae, it is actually a specific type of bacteria called cyanobacteria. They are usually present in bodies of water. This type of bacteria thrives in warm, nutrient-rich water. When conditions are right, blue-green algae can grow rapidly, leading to what is known as a bloom. Certain varieties of blue-green algae may produce toxins linked to diseases in humans and animals, writes Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Blue-green algae blooms are harmful when they produce toxins. Most "flowers" are safe. Looking at flowering, it is impossible to say whether it is harmful or not.

You can get sick if you swallow, touch, or breathe water droplets in the air while swimming, boating or jet-skiing, bathing or showering with harmful algae, or drinking water containing algae toxins. You may experience vomiting, diarrhea, rash, eye irritation, coughing, sore throat, and headache. Symptoms usually develop within 1 hour to 2 days after exposure.

The degree of exposure is affected by the duration and nature of contact with algae. Children tend to suffer more than adults.

On the subject: Causes paralysis and even death: poisonous algae infect US seafood

How to reduce risk

Avoid or minimize rest in the water, in which there are signs of flowering blue-green algae; if you come in contact with water filled with algae, then rinse the contact area with clean fresh water. Take care that children do not swallow water while bathing; be sure to rinse the child with clean fresh water after bathing.

Avoid using untreated lake or river water for drinking, cooking, and brushing your teeth, especially for infants and young children. Boiling water will not destroy algal toxins and may even increase their level.

Algae toxins can accumulate in the intestines, sometimes in the muscles (fillets) of fish. In general, fish caught in algae blooming areas can be safely eaten by discarding their entrails. But it is not known how much fillet gets dirty, so anglers should wait a couple of weeks after flowering ends.

Pets, especially dogs, are susceptible to algae because they are relatively small and tend to swallow more water while swimming and playing (for example, removing the ball from the water). Dogs can swallow algae if they lick their coat after exiting the water. Do not let the animal enter the water, swim or drink if there is noticeable algae in the water or it just seems dirty. If the animal has already been in the water, immediately rinse it with fresh water and do not let it lick the coat. If the condition or behavior of the animal has changed, contact your veterinarian immediately.

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