Health board issues warning over Bannow Bay shellfish

A health alert involving shellfish from Bannow Bay in Co Wexford has been issued by the South Eastern Health Board

A health alert involving shellfish from Bannow Bay in Co Wexford has been issued by the South Eastern Health Board. During routine monitoring, Department of the Marine officials detected diarrhetic shellfish poisoning in oysters. The warning also extends to mussels, clams, scallops and other bivalve shellfish.

The board has advised the public not to eat shellfish from the area. Restaurateurs and fishmongers have also been advised not to sell shellfish from Bannow Bay.

"Cooking does not destroy the toxins. Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhoea," an SEHB spokeswoman said.

So far there had been no reports of illness as a result of eating the shellfish, she said. "We have had none reported to date but we are issuing this warning as a precaution."

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The toxins are produced naturally by microscopic marine plants (phytoplankton) which are eaten by the shellfish. "The shellfish can occasionally accumulate the toxins to a level which render them unsafe for human consumption," the spokeswoman said.

The Marine Institute's Fisheries Research Centre, with the co-operation of Irish Shellfish Producers and the Departments of Health and the Marine, co-ordinate a national programme for the detection of these toxins in shellfish.

The spokeswoman said the testing methods used were the most up-to-date available and were performed in compliance with EU directives.

Monitoring will continue in Bannow Bay and, the spokeswoman said, further tests will be carried out on Friday. If they are clear, further testing will be carried out next week. "The public will be advised when the harvesting, sale and consumption of shellfish from Bannow Bay can be carried out safely," she added.