Disease outbreak along Australia's longest river could last until mid-2016: authorities

The Murray River, Australia's longest body of water, is suffering from an outbreak of microscopic bacteria that has poisoned the water supply, and authorities have warned the problem could persist for months to come.

A 700-kilometer (km) stretch of the Murray, the third longest navigable river in the world, has been infected by toxic blue-green algae since late February.

The government has warned locals not to swim in the Murray or drink its contaminated water.

Some local farmers have also been forced to seek alternative water streams to keep their cattle and crops alive.

On Thursday, the Victorian government said the outbreak could last until mid-2016, depending on when the cooler weather arrived.

"We've got independent expert advice helping us to look at the risks and the issues going forward," Victoria's Environment Minister Lisa Neville told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday.

"All the advice continues to tell us while the temperatures remain warm, while the water temperature remains in the 20s in the Murray, unless we have some cooling in the water, outside temperature and rainfall, we're going to see this algae."

"And that's probably likely to go into April, maybe even into May."

Water authorities have no other option than to let the algae die off naturally, as releasing chemicals to contain the colorful algae blooms would also likely kill the river's native flora and fauna.

In 2010, a similar outbreak came to an end after six to eight weeks.

The 2,508-km Australian river, which mostly runs along the Victorian and New South Wales border, is the main source of freshwater for nearby community towns.

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said water officials were constantly testing the quality of the water at 100 sites spanning the length of the river to monitor the algae's spread.

Tourism in the Murray region has taken a hit as well, with the river's main attractions -- waterskiing, fishing and swimming -- temporarily deemed unsafe.

The Victorian government will conduct an audit of tourism losses throughout the outbreak, and may provide compensation to impacted businesses. Endit