Shellfish have been taken off the menu in Northland's Doubtless Bay because of high levels of a paralysing toxin.
Northland Health has issued a warning not to take or eat shellfish from Doubtless Bay, in the Far North, because of "unacceptably high levels of biotoxins in shellfish in the area".
Neil Silver, shellfish co-ordinator for Northland Health's health protection unit, said testing on shellfish in Doubtless Bay revealed the presence of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins at levels 1.6 times more than the safe health limit.
The symptoms of PSP poisoning include numbness and tingling around the mouth, face or extremities, difficulty swallowing and breathing, dizziness, double vision and paralysis.
Mr Silver said shellfish should not be collected or eaten from Doubtless Bay between Cape Karikari and east to Berghan Point.
The warning is the latest affecting shellfish in Northland with unsafe levels of toxins found along about half of the region's 1700km of coastline.
Warnings not to take tuatua and toheroa from Northland's west coast are still in place, also because of the presence of PSP toxins.
It is not safe to collect or eat tuatua and toheroa along the coast from the Kaipara Harbour north to and including Cape Reinga and taking in Pouto, Maunganui Bluff, Mitimiti, Waipapakauri and The Bluff on Ninety Mile Beach.
Anyone who becomes ill after eating shellfish from any area is advised to see a doctor immediately, Mr Silver said.
A warning is still in place for the Hokianga Harbour and people are advised not to collect or eat any shellfish from the harbour because of the continued presence of microcystin toxins above a safe level.
Hokianga Harbour shellfish sampling was first undertaken following the confirmed presence of toxic cyanobacteria in Lake Omapere, which drains into the harbour. Shellfish sampling has continued to show high toxin levels in Hokianga Harbour waters, Mr Silver said.
High levels of microcystins are often associated with the death of animals drinking contaminated water and human fatalities have occurred when water used for dialysis of patients with kidney failure becomes contaminated.
Little is known about the long-term health effects of microcystins in people, but animal studies suggest they may cause serious liver damage so it is best to avoid them completely.
People who drink water or eat fish or shellfish containing elevated levels of microcystins may experience headaches, fever, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Usually the symptoms start within a few hours and do not last long.
Anyone who develops such symptoms and who may have come into contact with the toxins should rinse the contaminated water off their body if they have been swimming, and see a doctor immediately.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)
Toxins knock shellfish off the menu
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