Oregon officials close entire coast to mussel harvesting due to shellfish poisoning
Oregon closes coast to mussel harvest due to shellfish poisoningOregon officials close entire coast to mussel harvesting due to shellfish poisoning
Jun 1, 2024, 7:02 PM
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALEM, Ore. (AP) —
Oregon authorities have closed the state’s entire coastline to mussel harvesting due to an “unprecedented” outbreak of shellfish poisoning that has sickened at least 20 people.
They’ve also closed parts of the Oregon coast to harvesting razor clams, bay clams and oysters.
“We’ve had a paralytic shellfish poisoning event in Oregon that we have never seen in the state,” Matthew Hunter, shellfish program manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, said during a briefing on Friday. The outbreak’s unprecedented nature was due both to the number of species impacted and the number of people falling ill, he said.
Paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP, is caused by saxitoxin, a naturally occurring toxin produced by algae, according to the Oregon Health Authority. People who eat shellfish contaminated with high levels of saxitoxins usually start feeling ill within 30 to 60 minutes, the agency said. Symptoms include numbness of the mouth and lips, vomiting, diarrhea, and shortness of breath and irregular heartbeat in severe cases.
…more… no antidote… Washington also closed coastal harvesting… commercial harvesting closed…
