There is ongoing direct discharge of sewage into the rivers as a result of the earthquakes. Photo / Greg Bowker
High levels of norovirus have been found in shellfish in Canterbury river mouths.
The contaminated shellfish are in areas around the river mouths of the Avon, Heathcote and other locations around the Avon-Heathcote Estuary.
Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Doctor Alistair Humphrey says people shouldn't collect or eat shellfish from
anywhere in the estuary, including along the causeway, until further notice.
"But in addition, this is a find that our rivers, estuary and beaches around the estuary, which includes Brighton and Sumner, are still contaminated by human faeces and we should be avoiding them," he says.
Mr Humphrey says the contamination is because of the ongoing direct discharge of sewage into the rivers as a result of the earthquakes.
