Paralytic shellfish poisoning in Alaska

ATLANTA, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Alaska health officials investigated eight confirmed and 13 probable paralytic shellfish poisoning cases in southeastern Alaska in June, officials say.

A report published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, released Thursday, said paralytic shellfish poisoning is a potentially fatal condition resulting from consumption of saxitoxin. Ingestion of saxitoxin -- one of the most potent natural toxins known -- usually occurs after eating shellfish contaminated by toxic algal blooms, the report said.

However, it is tested for in commercial products making them safe to eat, federal health officials said.

Nonetheless, saxitoxin could be present and undetected in non-commercially harvested shellfish, the report said.

"The 21 cases reflect an increase in the number of cases reported in recent years and coincide with saxitoxin levels which were reportedly higher during spring 2011 than previous years," the report said.

"Because the risk for paralytic shellfish poisoning is unpredictable, all people who consume non-commercially harvested Alaskan shellfish are potentially at risk and should seek medical care immediately if symptoms develop, but avoiding of non-commercially harvested Alaskan shellfish not tested for saxitoxin is the best way to prevent paralytic shellfish poisoning."