Steuben County Health Department

07/16/2026

Pokagon State Park has temporarily closed its Main Beach after routine water quality testing revealed elevated levels of E. coli bacteria exceeding state safety parameters.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the immediate closure to protect public health after samples surpassed Indiana's threshold of 235 colonies per 100 milliliters.

Park officials attribute the sudden spike in bacteria to heavy rainfall, which frequently triggers an influx of nutrient-heavy stormwater runoff from nearby agricultural areas and local septic systems into Lake James.

Warning signs are prominently posted along the shoreline, and guests are strictly advised to avoid swimming in the area due to potential health risks like gastrointestinal distress. While the Main Beach remains offline for further lab analysis, all other park amenities—including hiking trails, boating, and fishing remain fully accessible.

Visitors looking to swim are being redirected to alternative nearby locations, such as the Potawatomi Inn Beach or the designated swimming area at the Trine State Recreation Area.

07/16/2026

🦟 **West Nile Virus & Mosquito Awareness** ☀️

Mosquitoes aren't just a nuisance—they can carry diseases like **West Nile virus**. Taking a few simple steps can help protect you, your family, and your community.

💧 **Drain standing water** around your home, including birdbaths, flowerpots, buckets, gutters, and old tires where mosquitoes can breed.

🧴 **Protect yourself:**
✅ Use EPA-registered insect repellent.
✅ Wear long sleeves and pants when possible, especially at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
✅ Keep windows and doors screened to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.

⚠️ **Know the symptoms:** Most people infected with West Nile virus don't feel sick, but some may develop fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash. In rare cases, serious neurological illness can occur.

Together, we can reduce mosquito breeding and lower the risk of West Nile virus in our community. Enjoy the outdoors—just remember to **Drain. Protect. Prevent.** 🦟💙

07/16/2026

Wildfire season is here. Do you know what to do if smoke reaches your area? Wildfire smoke can reach far away from where fires burn, and it can make anyone sick. Those with asthma, COPD, heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or who are pregnant are at especially high risk. If smoke reaches your area, here's what you can do to protect yourself and your family.

07/16/2026

🕷️ **Lyme Disease & Tick Awareness** 🌿

Tick season is here, and a few simple precautions can help protect you, your family, and your pets.

✅ Wear long sleeves and pants when walking in wooded or grassy areas.
✅ Use an EPA-registered insect repellent.
✅ Check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks after spending time outdoors.
✅ Shower soon after coming inside to help wash away unattached ticks.
✅ Remove attached ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers.

Early symptoms of Lyme disease may include:
⚠️ Fever or chills
⚠️ Fatigue
⚠️ Headache
⚠️ Muscle and joint aches
⚠️ A bull's-eye or expanding rash (not everyone develops this rash)

Early diagnosis and treatment are important. If you've been bitten by a tick or develop symptoms after spending time outdoors, contact your healthcare provider.

Enjoy the outdoors—but stay tick aware! Share this post to help spread awareness and keep our community safe. 💚

07/08/2026

07/07/2026

Balloons Aloft Returns This Weekend
By: Charlotte Burke • July 7, 2026 • Angola, IN

Hot air balloons, helicopter rides, skydivers, live music and family activities return to Angola this weekend for Balloons Aloft.

Full story here: https://wlki.com/view_article.php?id=4451

06/17/2026

06/17/2026

With another round of potentially severe weather moving into the area, we would like to once again remind you to have multiple ways to receive alerts and warnings. Have an evacuation or shelter plan in place; make plans now to keep your family safe.

While it true that the local NOAA/NWS Radio transmitter for Angola/Steuben County is limited in range, you may be able to pick-up alerts by changing to the Ft. Wayne channel of 162.550. The NWS is working to make repairs to the transmitter. Please keep in mind that this is not within the control of the local NWS office.

Other means of monitoring the weather can include; Local Broadcast Media, trusted weather apps, turning on the WEA feature on your cellular device, and reaching out to friends and family, or alerts through the FEMA app.