The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have launched a national registry for reporting algae bloom outbreaks, along with tips on how people can spot them and protect themselves.
The CDC reports that harmful algae blooms (HABS) are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change, farming practices, storm and wastewater runoff, and other environmental issues. The identification of HABs is critical to determine their patterns of occurrence, to protect water and food supplies, and to alert the general public when there is a problem.
The goal of the CDC’s One Health Harmful Algae Bloom System is to collect information to support the understanding and prevention of blooms and illnesses associated with them. This system will be available to state and territorial public health departments and their designated environmental health or animal health partners.
Prior to this new reporting system, public health authorities were already required to report human illnesses (affecting two or more people) resulting from algae blooms. With the new system, the focus will be on the hazardous blooms themselves and illnesses arising from the blooms, even if they only affect one person.
For more info on algae, click to chesapeakebay.net/fieldguide/categories/category/algae
Wednesday, June 29, 2016 - 09:00
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have launched a national registry for reporting algae bloom outbreaks, along with tips on how people can spot them and protect themselves.
The CDC reports that harmful algae blooms (HABS) are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change, farming practices, storm and wastewater runoff, and other environmental issues. The identification of HABs is critical to determine their patterns of occurrence, to protect water and food supplies, and to alert the general public when there is a problem.
The goal of the CDC’s One Health Harmful Algae Bloom System is to collect information to support the understanding and prevention of blooms and illnesses associated with them. This system will be available to state and territorial public health departments and their designated environmental health or animal health partners.
Prior to this new reporting system, public health authorities were already required to report human illnesses (affecting two or more people) resulting from algae blooms. With the new system, the focus will be on the hazardous blooms themselves and illnesses arising from the blooms, even if they only affect one person.
For more info on algae, click to chesapeakebay.net/fieldguide/categories/category/algae