Bay of Island shellfish toxin warning

There are fears after the long weekend that more people will have been affected by a potentially fatal shellfish toxin.

Maori environmentalist Emma Gibbs said a warning last week that Bay of Islands shellfish should not be eaten might have come too late for the influx of people on to Northland marae over Queen's Birthday Weekend.

Levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) have risen above the Ministry of Health's safe limit, prompting a Bay of Islands shellfish gathering ban on Thursday.

Ms Gibbs said a young girl became ill last week from eating shellfish and she feared people who had not known about the ban would be struck down after the weekend.

It is the second time since April that a ban has been placed on Bay of Islands shellfish.

Northland Health had issued a warning on April 14, after the toxin had been found at more than three times the safe limit.

Poisoning symptoms include numbness and tingling around the mouth, face or extremities; difficulty swallowing and breathing; dizziness; double vision and paralysis.

Kina, mussels, toheroa, pipi, tuatua, oysters and cockles in affected areas should not be eaten.