A Snohomish County resident was confirmed to have paralytic shellfish poisoning after eating butter clams harvested in Island County, health officials said Thursday.
Many beaches in the two counties have been closed to butter and varnish clam harvesting since 2021.
The person experienced numbness and tingling of the lips, tongue and extremities, according to the state Department of Health. Other symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, difficulty speaking and swallowing, and temporary paralysis.
Those symptoms can become apparent within minutes or a few hours. Severe cases can be fatal.
Current biotoxin closures are listed on the Washington Shellfish Safety Map and posted on signs at public beaches. For a list of areas closed due to biotoxins, call the state’s hotline at 1-800-562-5632.
More information about marine biotoxins can be found on the state Department of Health website.
Talk to us
- You can tell us about news and ask us about our journalism by emailing newstips@heraldnet.com or by calling 425-339-3428.
- If you have an opinion you wish to share for publication, send a letter to the editor to letters@heraldnet.com or by regular mail to The Daily Herald, Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.
- More contact information is here.
