Bois de la Cambre has dangerous bacteria, authorities warn

Brussels authorities are warning of dangerous bacteria in water samples taken from Bois de la Cambre, which revealed the presence of highly toxic botulism.

The Bois de la Cambre, like other tourist sites in the country, attracts large crowds when the weather is nice.

Signs now warn those visitors about the risk of botulism, RTBF reports, and municipal authorities are reminding people that swimming in the lake is forbidden.

They also advise against throwing bread into the water, as this contributes to the proliferation of bacteria.

Botulism is “a poisoning caused by the ingestion of powerful neurotoxins, botulinum toxins, present in contaminated food,” according to the World Health Organisation.

Previously, a park visitor alerted local authorities that her dog had fallen ill after she walked it in an area where there were many dead birds. Dead birds can be a sign of the presence of botulism bacteria.

A spokesperson for Brussels' alderman for green spaces confirmed that samples had been taken from the water and that botulinum toxins had been detected.

Botulinum bacteria tend to develop more easily in warm weather.