SEREMBAN: Mussels found in waters off Port Dickson are still not fit for consumption as there are still traces of dangerous biotoxins in them, says Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias.
The state agriculture, food security and cost of living committee chairman said based on the latest lab analysis, the mussels were contaminated by the algae species from the Prorocentrum, Alexandrium and Pseudo-nitzschia genera.
On April 4, the Fisheries Department issued a ban on the harvesting and selling of mussels in Port Dickson after lab tests showed the presence of biotoxins.
“As such, the rule prohibiting the harvesting of mussels and other bivalves in the PD area is still in force,” he said yesterday.
The Fisheries Department only came to know about the contamination after several people were hospitalised after consuming the mussels.
The department then advised people to refrain from eating mussels as well as lokan and lala harvested from waters off the resort town for at least three weeks until they are certified safe to eat.
The advisory exempts fish, squid, crabs and other marine produce.
The department said preliminary findings revealed that the algae population had increased drastically due to the unusually hot weather.
On April 2, eight cases of food poisoning, then believed to have been caused by eating mussels, were reported in the resort town.
Two people were admitted into the intensive care unit of the district hospital after they experienced paralysis.
Jalaluddin said the department would continue to carry out analyses of mussels found in Port Dickson, and the next result would be known on Friday.
“We hope the public would report if they see a change in the colour of sea water,” he added.
A change in the colour of the sea can indicate the presence of dangerous algae.
