WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. - New test results of shellfish in the waters off Whatcom County have surprised county health officials, forcing them to issue a warning.
The new testing has detected marine biotoxins - that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) - at levels potentially lethal to humans.
All of Whatcom County has been closed to the recreational harvest of shellfish since early June because high levels of PSP were detected. But these new levels are alarming.
"A spike in PSP levels like this is very rare", says Tom Kunesh with the Whatcom County Health Department. "It's important that people know not to consume the flesh of these shellfish".
The shellfish ban includes clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, geoducks and other species of molluscan shellfish. Crab is not included in the closure, but officials say "crab butter" and crab entrails should be discarded, and only the meat should be eaten.
The health department says PSP biotoxins are naturally occurring and are not destroyed by cooking or freezing.
You're only at risk if you consume toxic shellfish.
Symptoms of PSP poisoning can appear within minutes or hours and usually begin with tingling lips and tongue, moving to the hands and feet, followed by difficulty breathing, and potentially death. If you experience these symptoms officials say contact a health care provider. If you have an extreme reaction call 911.
The hot weather and water conditions are contributing to the concern.
"We are especially concerned right now because the tides are low and that exposes more areas where shellfish can be found", Kunesh says. "Not to mention people are flocking to the beaches to swim right now".
Nearby Skagit County also reports high levels of PSP but not life-threatening levels.
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