MOHAKATINO - MOTUNUI IN TARANAKI
The Taranaki District Health Board today issue a public health warning advising people not to collect or consume shellfish from Mohakatino down to Motunui. Routine tests on shellfish samples taken from Mohakatino this week have shown levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) at (1.11mg/kg). This level is above the Ministry for Primary Industry safe limit of 0.80 mg/kg and anyone eating these toxic shellfish is potentially at risk of illness especially if they eat a large quantity.
Kina, mussels, toheroa, pipis, tuatua, oysters and cockles in the affected area should not be eaten. Cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin.
Paua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.
Symptoms of PSP usually occur within 12 hours of consuming shellfish and include:
- Numbness and tingling around the mouth, face or extremities;
- Difficulties in swallowing or breathing;
- Dizziness; double vision;
- And in severe cases, paralysis and respiratory failure.
If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued they should contact a doctor immediately, advise their local Public Health Unit and keep any leftover shellfish for testing .
Signage is currently being erected in the area affected by the Public Health Warning and major stakeholders have been informed. The Public Health Unit of the Taranaki District Health Board will continue to monitor the situation. For more information about the safety of the shellfish, people can contact a Health Protection Officer toll free at 0508 834 274.
Hokianga Harbour
The Health Protection Unit of Northland District Health Board continues to advise people not to consume shellfish from the Hokianga Harbour. This public health warning has been issued due to the persistence of Microcystin Toxins above safe levels in shellfish.
Shellfish in the Hokianga Harbour were tested for Microcystins after a bloom of toxic Cyanobacteria occurred in Lake Omapere which drains into the Hokianga Harbour.
High levels of microcystins are frequently associated with the death of animals consuming contaminated water. Human deaths from consumption on microcystins have not been well reported but it is acutely toxic in animal studies and they are thought to cause liver damage in humans. Human fatalities have also occurred when water used for dialysis of patients with kidney failure has become contaminated.
For further information contact: Northland District Health Board (09) 430 4100
Bay of Plenty shellfish toxin warning extended - 9th October 2012 (still valid as of 05/09/2013)
Following ongoing shellfish toxin monitoring the Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxin warning has been extended eastwards to include Whakatane Heads.
The affected area now includes the entire coastline from Tairua (including Tairua Harbour), east along the Bay of Plenty coastline, including Tauranga Harbour, Maketu and Waihi estuaries, to Whakatane Heads. Also included in the warning are Matakana and Motiti islands, and all other inshore islands along this coastline.
“Ongoing monitoring has shown high levels of paralytic shellfish poison present in shellfish along this coastline. People should take note of the areas that still contain high levels of paralytic shellfish poison and avoid collecting shellfish in these areas,” says Medical Officer of Health, Dr Jim Miller.
The health warning applies to all bivalve shellfish including mussels, pipi, tuatua, cockles, oysters, scallops as well as catseyes and kina (sea urchin). Shellfish in the affected area should not be taken or consumed. Paua, crayfish and crabs can still be taken but as always, the gut should be removed before cooking.
Consumption of shellfish affected by the paralytic shellfish toxin can cause numbness and tingling around the mouth, face or extremities; difficulty swallowing or breathing; dizziness; double vision; and in severe cases, paralysis and respiratory failure. These symptoms usually occur within 12 hours of a person consuming affected shellfish. Anyone suffering illness after eating shellfish should seek medical attention.
Monitoring of toxin levels will continue along the coast and any changes will be communicated accordingly. For all health warning updates across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts call 0800 221 555. Further information is available at www.ttophs.govt.nz/health_warnings
There are no biotoxin warnings currently in place for the South Island
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