People are advised to avoid direct contact with the water, and not use it for cooking, drinking, washing or showering.

Boiling the water will not make it safe.

Pets and livestock should also be kept from the water.

The bloom is expected to remain until there is significant rainfall to flush the algae, or cooler conditions arrive and slow their growth.

Contact with blue green algae can irritate the skin, eyes, ears and nose, and if swallowed, can cause cramps, nausea and vomiting.

Those who do come into contact with the algae should immediately wash their skin with cool clean water.

Fish caught in affected waters should be cleaned thoroughly in fresh water before eating, but mussels, crayfish and yabbies should be avoided.

Waranga Basin near Rushworth is also experiencing high levels of blue green algae.

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