MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 7 May 2009

Public Health Warning

Public Health is advising the public not to collect and eat shellfish from within the vicinity of Great Barrier and Little Barrier Islands while this warning is in place.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) today issued a public health warning advising the public not to take or eat shellfish harvested from Great Barrier and Little Barrier Islands. This warning does not apply to shellfish harvested from the Hauraki Gulf, and the Coromandel areas which are not affected.

This warning has been issued due to the presence of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) above safe levels in shellfish which are routinely monitored at the shellfish marine farms within Great Barrier Island. The elevated level of bio toxin in this event is thought to be caused by the Phytoplankton species Alexandrium catenella which has been detected at elevated levels in the water column around Great Barrier Island over the past month.

“We are asking the public to take safeguards and not to take or eat shellfish collected from Great Barrier and Little Barrier islands while this warning is in place,” said Dr Brad Novak, Medical Officer of Health at ARPHS.

“Any shellfish collected and stored since 27 April 2009 should be regarded as potentially harmful and be disposed of safely. Also, potentially harmful shellfish should not be fed to animals.” 

Symptoms of Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) occur within 12 hours of consuming shellfish.  They include numbness and tingling around the mouth, face or extremities; difficulty swallowing or breathing; dizziness; double vision; and paralysis.

This warning applies to the collecting of all shellfish, including scallops, tuatua, cockles, oysters, mussels, pipi’s, catseyes or pupu, and kina or sea urchin.  The gut of paua, crayfish and crabs should not be eaten when taken from within the area.

The public are reminded that the gut and skirt of scallops should never be consumed even when taken from areas that are not subject to warnings about biotoxins.

Anyone who becomes ill after consuming shellfish should seek immediate medical attention.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service is continuing to take samples of shellfish to monitor the situation.

Dr Novak advises people who want more information about the safety of shellfish in their possession to contact the Duty Health Protection Officer at Auckland Regional Public Health Service on 09 623 4600.

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) also publishes up to date information on their web site www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consumers/marine-biotoxins.

ENDS

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