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Blue-green algal blooms can be potentially fatal for swimming dogs and, more rarely, can be harmful for humans. (William van Atken)
A person who played in Bull Creek over the weekend has developed symptoms that could be associated with exposure to harmful algae, the City of Austin reported on Thursday.
There has been no confirmation that the person's symptoms are correlated with algae from the creek or that there is harmful algae in the creek. Cyanobacteria, the blue-green algae that crops up in Central Texas waterways during warmer weather, can be harmful or fatal to dogs and has been the cause of several dog deaths in Austin in the past two years.
The report comes after Austin mother Leia Morris reported that her three-year-old son developed symptoms after playing at the Bull Creek Preserve on Sunday, although the city did not confirm that this was the case in question.
Morris told KXAN her son, Linus, woke up trembling on Monday and has experienced tremors and muscle twitches.
"When he woke up on Tuesday, once again I could see his muscles twitching — like I could visibly see that his fingers were twitchy," she told KXAN.
Although Bull Creek has no obvious signs of cyanobacteria, it is impossible to detect the presence of harmful algae without a lab sample. The City of Austin took algae and water samples Friday and expects to have preliminary lab results next week.
The city has been grappling with harmful algae outbreaks since 2019, when five dogs died after swimming in Lady Bird Lake in 2019. Small amounts of dihydroanatoxin, potentially dog-killing algae, has been found in an algae sample taken from Lake Austin near Mansfield Dam as well as two samples from Lady Bird Lake. Low levels of dihydroanatoxin have been detected in the Highland Lakes by the Lower Colorado River Authority this year, including Red Bud Isle in Jun. At least one dog has died in Lake Travis this year and many have been reported sick.
Toxins have only been detected in mats of algae growing on the bottom of the lake or floating on top and could become harmful if one swallows or touches visible algae. Swimmers should follow warning signs posted at these bodies of water and steer clear of warm, stagnant or foul-smelling water. Bacteria levels tend to be higher after rainfall.
In people, symptoms from the harmful bacteria could include:
- Dermatologic signs or symptoms such as rash, irritation, swelling, or sores
- Gastrointestinal signs or symptoms
- Respiratory signs or symptoms
- Fever
- Headache
- Neurologic signs or symptoms
- Ear symptoms
- Eye irritation
In dogs, symptoms may include:
- Excessive drooling, vomiting and diarrhea
- Foaming at the mouth
- Jaundice and hepatomegaly
- Blood in urine or dark urine
- Stumbling
- Loss of appetite
- Photosensitization in recovering animals
- Abdominal tenderness
- Progression of muscle twitches
- Respiratory paralysis
- Increased risk for dog-killing algae at Lady Bird Lake - austonia ›
- Austin issues warning as risk for dog-killing algae rises - austonia ›
- Austin issues warning as risk for dog-killing algae rises - austonia ›
- Austin readying for another dog-killing algae bloom - austonia ›
- Blue-green algae causing dog deaths, sickness at Hudson Bend ... ›
- Increased risk for dog-killing algae at Lady Bird Lake - austonia ›
- Dog-killing algae confirmed in Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake ... ›
- Blue-green algae toxins detected in Lake Austin near Mansfield ... ›
- City begins blue-green algae mitigation at Red Bud Isle - Austin ... ›
- Austin toddler develops muscle tremors after possible blue-green ... ›
- Toxins found in blue-green algae at Red Bud Isle, Walsh Boat ... ›
- 'A constant concern': Austin dog owners brace for summer toxic ... ›
Popular
(Bob Daemmrich)
After months of speculation, a new report says political personality Beto O'Rourke is mulling a run for Texas governor that he will announce later this year.
Sources tell Axios the former congressman is preparing his campaign for the 2022 election, where he will likely vie for the position against incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott. The only other candidate that has announced he will take on Abbott for governor is former Texas GOP Chairman Allen West—no Democrats have announced they are running as of yet.
"No decision has been made," Axios reports David Wysong, O'Rourke's former House chief of staff and a longtime adviser, said. "He has been making and receiving calls with people from all over the state."
A new poll from The Dallas Morning News and University of Texas at Tyler shows O'Rourke is narrowing the gap between himself and Abbott's prospects for governor. In the poll, 37% said they'd vote for O'Rourke over Abbott, while 42% said they'd vote for Abbott.
Abbott has been in the hot seat due to his handling of COVID-19 and the signing of landmark legislation into law, including new abortion and voting rights laws; 54% of poll respondents voted they think the state is headed in the "wrong direction." Still, Texas hasn't had a Democrat as governor since the 90s.
O'Rourke's people-focused approach to the 2018 Senator race, which he lost to Sen. Ted Cruz, gave him a widespread following and many hoped he'd throw his hat into the ring since he said he was considering it earlier this year.
"We hope that he's going to run," Gilberto Hinojosa, the state chair of the Democratic Party, told Axios. "We think he'll be our strongest candidate. We think he can beat Abbott because he's vulnerable."
Jordi is an Austin-based rapper who represented Texas at the 2021 Red Bull Batalla. (Esparza)
Austin rapper Jordi Esparza may not have won the 2021 Red Bull Batalla, the world's largest Spanish freestyle rap competition, but for a spirited two rounds, the 22-year old Mexican native looked like he had every right to.
On Saturday evening in Los Angeles, the event itself looked like Cobra Kai meets Star Search with graphics adding a very Batman Beyond aesthetic. Over a dozen rappers hoping to represent the U.S. in the international round of the competition took to the stage with in-your-face jabs at accents, sexual orientation and odors, among other things.
This was Esparza's second rodeo; he had placed third at the 2020 National Finals, automatically securing him a spot this year.
However, things were different this year. He was not nervous about the contest. Unlike in 2020, when he made his Red Bull Batalla debut, the anxiety of the event led him to "feeling so bad."
Affecting a casual calm, the locally-based landscaper said he just felt "so relaxed, so happy" and primarily wanted to "enjoy everything."
Choosing his first-round opponent, Esparza, whose stage name is Jordi, elected to go against LA-based Boss.
Esparza freestyled an attack on his opponent's weight and cholo style of dress.
Boss—bracketing his Latin freestyle with English appeals to the crowd—mocked Jordi's lack of education, made fun of how clean Jordi's shoes looked and suggested that Jordi just came back from a Footlocker.
That first round went to Jordi.
But his next opponent Eckonn would prove to be his undoing.
Eckonn compared Jordi to Hannah Montana, while Jordi soulfully explained that he had learned from the best.
Esparza's verbal dexterity is matched by a rattling rhythm and a game face that is as mawkish as it is mockish. The overall effect is that of an underdog with bite.
Eckonn beat Esparza in that round with the overall championship going to Palm Beach-based rapper Reverse.
However, Esparza was just happy to be there. He recently told Austonia going to the finals again was a dream come true—a pinnacle that he said he won't know how to top.
With his nimble jabs and sneaky prowess, honed from pop culture and the swagger of a young working man hungry to be more, Jordi Esparza is just getting started.
