CDPH Lifts Warning about Certain Bivalve Shellfish from Del Norte and Humboldt Counties

Date: November 19, 2018
Number: 18-057
Contact: Corey Egel | 916.440.7259 | CDPHpress@cdph.ca.gov

SACRAMENTO - The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) lifted health advisories today related to sport-harvested mussels, whole scallops, and clams (other than razor clams) in Del Norte and Humboldt counties. The advisories had been issued due to dangerous levels of domoic acid, a naturally occurring toxin that can cause illness or death, detected in mussels from the region. Recent testing shows concentrations of domoic acid are now at safe or undetectable levels.

The CDPH warning against eating sport-harvested razor clams from Del Norte and Humboldt counties due to dangerous levels of domoic acid remains in effect.

Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood. In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and dizziness. These symptoms disappear within several days. In severe cases, the victim may experience trouble breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short term memory, coma or death. No cases of human poisoning from domoic acid are known to have occurred in California.

For the most current information on shellfish advisories and quarantines, call CDPH’s toll-free Shellfish Information Line at (800) 553-4133. For additional information, please visit the CDPH Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Web page.