Toxic health scare: Mindarie Marina seafood eaters urged to seek medical help

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Toxic health scare: Mindarie Marina seafood eaters urged to seek medical help

By Staff Writers
Updated

People who have eaten any fish caught recreationally from Mindarie Marina have been urged to seek urgent medical help.

The Department of Health warned people on Thursday afternoon from eating fish, crabs or shellfish caught from the marina because of fears of paralytic poisoning.

People who have eaten seafood caught recreationally at Mindarie Marina recently may suffer paralytic poisoning.

People who have eaten seafood caught recreationally at Mindarie Marina recently may suffer paralytic poisoning.

Environmental health director Jim Dodds said a potentially-toxic, microscopic algae "Alexandrium spp" had been detected in recent testing.

Anyone who has eaten any of the seafood caught recreationally from the marina could suffer muscular paralysis.

The Health Department said symptoms included tingling or numbness of the lips, a prickliness sensation around the fingertips and toes, nausea or vomiting, impaired balance, dizziness, slurred speech, double vision, weakness, difficulty in swallowing or breathing, loss of fluids and diarrhoea.

"These algae, which are not visible to the naked eye, can produce a very potent neurotoxin, which could be absorbed by filter feeding shellfish and, to a lesser extent, potentially consumed by crabs and fish," Mr Dodds said.

"Normal cooking processes will not destroy these toxins.

"Anyone who has consumed shellfish, crabs or fish collected from the marina and experiences any of these symptoms should seek urgent medical attention, particularly if they feel any respiratory distress.

"Do not discard uneaten portions of mussels or other shellfish."

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Shellfish can include oysters, mussels, clams, pipis, scallops, cockles and razor clams but only recreationally-caught fish are potentially affected, the department said in a statement.

Commercially-caught fish are safe to consume and those swimming or boating are not at risk from the algae.

The City of Wanneroo and Mindarie Marina would continue to monitor algae levels and advise the department.

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