Public Health Advisory: Avoid water at East Fork State Park

People and pets are advised to avoid the waters at Harsha Lake at East Fork State Park.

The Clermont County Health Department says that high levels of toxins from a harmful algal bloom have been detected in the waters of the lake.

A Public Health Advisory has been issued by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, according to a Tweet.

The lake shows high levels of microcystins, according to sampling results Tweeted by the Clermont County Health Department.

The Environmental Protection Agency says that there have been relatively few documented cases of severe human health effects. Typically, the toxins can cause skin rashes, eye irritations, respiratory symptoms and in some cases, liver and kidney failure or death.

The health department recommends that people and their pets avoid all contact with the water.

Contact Briana Rice at 513-568-3496 or brice@enquirer.com. Follow her on Twitter at @BriRiceWrites.