Do Not Eat Sport-Harvested Shellfish from Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay

State public health officials are warning the public not to eat anysport-harvested bivalve shellfish -- mussels, clams or whole scallops -- from Santa Cruz and Monterey counties as consumption can lead to illness or death. 

Domoic acid has been detected in shellfish in Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz, according to the California Department of Public Health. 

The acid leads to an illness known as amnesic shellfish poisoning. There are no known cases of deaths due to poisoning from domoic acid in California, according to state public health officials. 

The warning applies to certain types of seafood such as mussels, clams, oysters or whole scallops, which fall under the category of bivalve shellfish. 

Commercial bivalve shellfish are not under the warningsince they are sold by approved sources subject to frequent mandatory testing for toxins, state public health officials said. 

Symptoms of domoic acid poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and dizziness. Severe symptoms include trouble breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, excessive bronchial secretions, permanent loss of short-term memory, coma or death. 

Symptoms can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours of consuming toxic seafood.

More information on shellfish poisoning and quarantines can be obtained by calling the CDPH's toll-free "Shellfish Information Line" at (800) 553-4133.

-- Bay City News