A new report says more people and animals, including pets, are getting sick from exposure to toxic algae that form in natural water bodies across the United States.

While there have been no human deaths, animals have died from the toxic effects, the report shows.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) seem to be becoming worse, especially during the summer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new report that analyzes data from 2021, 16 states reported a total of 117 human illnesses and at least 2,715 animal illnesses as a result of HAB events.

HAB events peak in August, the report found, with 90% of blooms occurring in lakes, reservoirs and other fresh waters. HABs emerge from the rapid growth of algae or cyanobacteria — also known as blue-green algae.

“HAB events of public health concern are primarily caused by microalgae, cyanobacteria, and the toxins they can produce,” the CDC said in its report. “HAB events, which can be intensified by factors such as nutrient pollution and warmer water temperature, can have public health, environmental, and economic impacts.”

The CDC’s report is based on voluntary reporting by public health agencies and their designated environmental health or animal health partners.

Exposure to high levels of blue-green algae and their toxins can cause illness and death, the CDC said.

Human illnesses from toxic blue-green algae happened predominately in June. Of the 117 cases, the CDC said 46% of illnesses were among people younger than 18, suggesting children and teens may be at higher risk of illness compared with adults.

Public health officials have said exposure to high levels of blue-green algae and their toxins can cause diarrhea, nausea or vomiting; skin, eye or throat irritation; and allergic reactions or breathing difficulties.

Pets and livestock can also get sick or die if they consume large amounts of water containing blooms.

The CDC cited a large wildlife mortality event that occurred in Washington from a single harmful algae bloom and involved at least 2,000 bats.

Last week, Kansas health officials reported that nine state lakes were impacted by blue-green algae and issued several types of advisories for those areas.

The toxic algae have also plagued Florida waterways for years, thriving on excess nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, septic tanks and sewage spills. Several Florida dogs have gotten sick or died from drinking water laden with toxic blue-green algae in recent years.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【有毒的】yǒudú de toxic containing or being poisonous material

【腹泻】fùxiè diarrhea abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools

一份新的报告称，美国各地越来越多的人和动物（包括宠物）因接触天然水体中的有毒藻类而患病。

报告显示，虽然没人死亡，但有动物因此丧命。

有害藻华（HABs）似乎越来越严重，尤其在夏季。根据美国疾病控制和预防中心分析2021年数据形成的最新报告，共16个州报告有害藻华事件导致117例人类病例以及至少2715例动物疾病。

报告发现，有害藻华事件在8月达到峰值，90%的藻华发生在湖泊、水库和其他淡水中。藻华由藻类或蓝藻（又称蓝绿藻）的快速生长引起。

“公共卫生关注的有害藻华事件主要是由微藻类、蓝藻及其可能产生的毒素引起的，” 疾控中心在其报告中说。

“有害藻华事件会因营养物质污染和水温升高等因素而加剧，对公众健康、环境和经济造成影响。”

疾控中心的报告数据来源是基于公共卫生机构及其特定环境卫生或动物健康合作机构的自愿报告。

疾控中心表示，接触高浓度的蓝绿藻及其毒素可导致疾病和死亡。

有毒蓝绿藻引起的人类疾病主要发生在6月份。疾控中心说，在117起病例中，46%的病例发生在18岁以下人群中，这表明与成年人相比，儿童和青少年患病的风险可能更高。

公共卫生官员说，接触高浓度的蓝绿藻及其毒素可导致腹泻、恶心或呕吐；皮肤、眼睛或喉咙刺激；过敏反应或呼吸困难。

宠物和牲畜饮用大量含有藻华的水后也会生病甚至死亡。

疾控中心提到了发生在华盛顿州的一起大规模野生动物死亡事件，该事件由单一有害藻华引起，造成至少2000只蝙蝠死亡。

上周，堪萨斯州卫生官员报告说，该州有9个湖泊受到蓝绿藻的影响，并对这些地区发布了相关警告。

多年来，有毒藻类一直困扰着佛罗里达州的水道，它们因肥料、化粪池和污水泄漏产生的过量氮和磷而大量繁殖。近年来，佛罗里达州有犬只饮用含有有毒蓝绿藻的水后生病或死亡。(SD-Agencies)