Toi te Ora Public Health medical officer of health Dr Phil Shoemack says so far one person is believed to have gone to hospital with paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) this summer in the Bay of Plenty.
'It was someone who was sick the very same day that we issued the health warning,” says Phil.

'He was in hospital for a day or two and then discharged. It is impossible to absolutely confirm the diagnosis, but both the staff who treated him and the individual are pretty certain. Since then there have been no other reports.”
The warning was issued on December 21 and will be in effect for at least another two weeks.
Anyone who eats bivalves collected anywhere along the coast from Coromandel to Whakatane is risking PSP.
The area includes the entire coastline from Tairua including Tairua Harbour south including Whiritoa, Whangamata, Onemana, and east along the Bay of Plenty coastline from Waihi beach, including Tauranga Harbour to the mouth of the Whakatane River in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Included are all inshore islands within the above area. The coastline eastward from Ohope beach is currently unaffected.
The health warning affects all bivalve shellfish including mussels, pipi, tuatua, cockles, oysters, scallops, catseyes and kina (sea urchin). Paua, crayfish and crabs can still be taken but the gut should be removed before cooking. Cooking does not remove the toxin.