Health Warning – Norovirus found in shellfish

Health Warning – Norovirus found in shellfish taken from the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai

The Community and Public Health division of Canterbury District Health Board has issued a health warning after shellfish in several river mouths around Christchurch have been found to have extremely high levels of norovirus.

The contaminated shellfish were found in the Avon/Otakaro and the Heathcote/Opawaho river mouths. There were also high levels of norovirus in shellfish found at other locations in the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health Dr Ramon Pink says people should not collect or eat shellfish from anywhere in the Avon-Heathcote Estuary /Ihutai, including along the causeway, until further notice.

Norovirus is found in the faeces and vomit of infected people can be infected through direct contact with another person who is sick, through eating contaminated food (such as shellfish) or water, or touching surfaces and objects contaminated with the virus.

“Recent tests have confirmed that shellfish have become contaminated with norovirus,” Dr Pink says.

“This is because of the direct discharge of sewage into the Avon and Heathcote rivers and the estuary as a result of the February earthquake.”

Monitoring of these sites will continue and the public will be informed when it is safe to gather shellfish again, he says.

“In the meantime people should not be gathering shellfish to eat from these waters. Signage has been placed in these areas to warn people not to gather shellfish. Vandalising or ignoring these signs can have serious consequences,” Dr Pink says.

Symptoms of norovirus often begin suddenly and include vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach-aches. People may also have a fever, chills, headache and muscle aches. The illness is usually brief, although symptoms may persist for several days and may become life-threatening in the young, elderly, and the immune-compromised. Anyone who suffers from these symptoms should contact their General Practice for medical advice.

“We would also like to remind people that contact with river and sea water in and around Christchurch City should be avoided. The only areas where water quality has been found to be acceptable are Pegasus Bay beaches north of the Waimakariri River and Taylors Mistake south including Lyttelton Harbour/Whakaraupo,” Dr Pink says.

The sites where water quality is affected are listed on Environment Canterbury’s website.

ENDS

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