Namibia declares mussels, shellfish from nation's main fishing hubs unfit for consumption

Namibia's fisheries and marine resources ministry shut down all outlets that sell mussels and oysters harvested from the Walvis Bay and Swakopmund areas Friday.

Walvis Bay and Swakopmund are about 350 kilometers from Windhoek and this is where Namibia's main fishing industries are located.

In a statement, the fisheries ministry said tests carried out recently by the Namibia Standard Institute showed that the mussels and oysters from these areas carry the diarrhetic shellfish poison.

Although the ministry did not say when exactly the tests were done, the statement advised the general public not to buy or eat mussels and oysters until further notice.

It said that the discovery was made during routine testing done as part of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program on Mussels and Oysters from the area.

Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning produces gastrointestinal symptoms, usually beginning within 30 minutes to a few hours after consumption of toxic shellfish.

Although not fatal, the illness is characterized by diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

"The Ministry will, therefore, shut down the sales of these products until the further notice and therefore appeal for cooperation to all our stakeholders," the statement said.

In the event that some people consume affected mussels and oysters, the statement further said, they should seek immediate medical attention.

This is the second time this year the fisheries ministry has warned people against consuming mussels and shellfish from the areas.

In June, the ministry also warned about poisonous mussels and shellfish, saying that they had been poisoned by algae. Endit