The ministry for Agriculture has recommended several precautions to take for those who intend to pick up shells and shellfish for their own consumption.
In the case of some shellfish - including mussels, oysters, cockles and clams - certain pathogens may be present in the water and the surrounding sand, it said, which can cause severe problems for human health if ingested.
Problematic symptoms may be similar to a stomach bug, including loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, nausea, headaches and fever; or may also affect the nervous system, including confusion, dizziness, swelling of the hands and feet, and lack of motor coordination.
The ministry advice includes:
- Only pick up from areas far away from ports and anchoring zones
- Avoid fishing or picking in the days immediately after heavy rain
- After picking, keep the shellfish cold
- Only keep living shellfish, and wash them thoroughly before cooking
- After cooking, when applicable only keep shellfish whose shells have opened during cooking
- Keep consumption limited among vulnerable people, including children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those in a fragile state or with lowered immune systems
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