WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Officials in Kansas are bracing for blue-green algae problems after toxic blooms sickened more than a dozen people last year.
The Wichita Eagle reported that a small lake in Great Bend is the only body of water in Kansas with an official algae bloom so far.
But officials say more algae blooms are expected.
Tom Langer is the head of environmental health for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. He says his office is already getting phone calls about algae blooms in other waters. Some major lakes in nearby Oklahoma have officially reported blooms.
The problem is expected to increase slowly before taking off in June.
Skin contact with the bright green algae can cause allergic reactions and ingesting infected water can cause diarrhea, vomiting and worse
