Malmö issues swimming warning for all municipal beaches due to algae bloom

Do not swim at municipal seaside beaches in Malmö until further notice. Black flags are currently flying at all of these public bathing spots. Malmö city officials issued the warning after recent inspections revealed widespread algal blooms. Every tested beach in the municipality showed signs of algae growth.

Regular checks carried out by the city council identified algae at every site. Not all algal blooms are harmful to human health. However, some blooms contain toxic cyanobacteria. Swallowing contaminated water can cause serious illness. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, headache, and skin irritation.

Children and dogs face a higher risk of health issues from toxic algae. People with underlying health conditions are also particularly vulnerable. The algae can shift quickly due to weather and water conditions. Because of this, officials cannot predict how long the advisory will last. Residents can check the Malmö city council website for updated beach notices.