At least 20 people in Oregon have fallen ill due to paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) after harvesting mussels from specific beaches in Tillamook and Clatsop counties. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported that those infected individuals fell ill after gathering mussels last weekend at Short Beach near Oceanside in Tillamook County and Hug Point near Seaside in Clatsop County. While some cases have required hospitalization, no deaths have been reported.
PSP is the most severe type of shellfish poisoning, caused by saxitoxins. According to the National Institute of Health, saxitoxin is “an alkaloid isolated from the marine dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning. These potent neurotoxins contaminate shellfish, particularly clams and mussels. PSP cannot be eliminated by cooking or freezing the contaminated shellfish.
Symptoms of PSP usually appear within 30 to 60 minutes after eating contaminated shellfish and can include numbness and tingling of the face, lips, tongue, arms, legs, fingers, and toes. Consuming large doses of the toxin can lead to paralysis and respiratory failure, which may require mechanical ventilation for treatment.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have taken action by closing mussel harvesting from the Washington border south to Seal Rock State Park. This measure aims to prevent further cases of PSP in the region.
Fox 28 in Spokane, Washington also reports that “the Washington State Department of Health’s Recreational Shellfish Program issued a biotoxin notice which is closing bivalve shellfish gathering along the Pacific Coast, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that (PSP) happens globally, but it is most frequently found in the temperate waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, including Alaska.
It’s essential for anyone who has consumed mussels from the coasts of Oregon and Washington since last Saturday to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms. Additionally, individuals are advised not to feed these mussels to pets and to discard any remaining shellfish gathered from the closed coastline areas.
Commenting on this story, one national food safety attorney said, “Consumers that suspect exposure to PSP should seek medical help promptly. Consumers should also stay informed about local health advisories and follow guidelines to protect themselves and their loved ones from this serious biotoxin.”
