Golden algae possible cause of fish die-off in Oder river, minister says

WARSAW, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Oder River, plagued by a mass fish die-off since late July, could have been contaminated by rare microorganisms known as golden algae, a Polish government minister said on Thursday.

Anna Moskwa, minister of climate and environment, told the Polish Press Agency that the golden algae, a "rare and little-known species," were recently found in Oder river water samples, and that recent studies showed a bloom of such algae in the river.