Toxic shellfish warnings in the Bay of Plenty are back on high alert after routine marine biotoxin monitoring uncovered increasingly high levels of the paralytic toxin.

Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service medical officer of health Dr Jim Miller says the high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxin found in shellfish are now well above the medical alert level – similar to levels found in the outbreak late last year.

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board have once again found high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxin.

He is urging residents and visitors to remember the health warnings are still in place, especially with the summer holidays fast approaching.

'Paralytic shellfish poisoning can be a very serious illness, it can even be fatal. Please look out for the warning signs and don't collect or eat shellfish from the affected areas,” says Jim.

During last year's Christmas and New Year break a total of 29 cases of people affected by the shellfish toxin were recorded by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

Tauranga Hospital tended to multiple cases of the poisoning, with some patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

Jim strongly advises against the collection of shellfish from Tairua on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, south to Waihi Beach and along the Bay of Plenty coast to Whakatane Heads in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

The warning includes Tairua Harbour as well as Tauranga Harbour, Maketu and Waihi estuaries, Matakana and Motiti Islands, and all other islands along this coastline.

The health warning applies to all bi-valve shellfish including mussels, pipi, tuatua, cockles, oysters, scallops as well as cat's eyes, snails and kina (sea urchin).

'Shellfish in the affected area should not be taken or eaten. Shellfish containing toxic levels of paralytic shellfish poison don't look or taste any different from shellfish that are safe to eat.”

He says cooking or freezing the shellfish does not remove the toxin but Paua, crayfish and crabs can still be taken with the gut removed before consuming.

Consumption of shellfish affected by paralytic shellfish toxin can cause numbness and tingling around the mouth, face, hands and feet; difficulty swallowing or breathing; dizziness; double vision; and in severe cases, paralysis and respiratory failure.

These symptoms can start as soon as 1-2 hours after eating toxic shellfish and usually within 12 hours. Anyone suffering illness after eating shellfish should seek urgent medical attention.

The public can obtain up-to-date information on the toxic shellfish health warning from the options below:

• Phone: 0800 221 555, option 1
• Website: www.ttophs.govt.nz/health_warnings
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/ttophs
• Email alerts for subscribers: www.ttophs.govt.nz/alert
• Signage at locations (i.e. shellfish health warning signs at affected beaches)