Update Hauraki Gulf Health Warning
22nd October 2009
Monday 22nd March 2010 - This advice is current for Hauraki Gulf beaches
Health cautions still in place for any sea slugs found on Hauraki Beaches
The Auckland Regional Public Health Service is reminding people about the potential for poisonous sea slugs on Hauraki Gulf beaches, and still advising some caution.
During August and September, 15 dogs became unwell with symptoms consistent with tetrodotoxin (TTX) poisoning after eating sea slugs at Hauraki Gulf beaches. Six of these dogs died.
With a warm, long weekend predicted and people heading for the beaches, Medical Officer of Health, Dr Simon Baker says, “We want people to enjoy our beautiful coastline but keep in mind this potential ongoing risk to children and pets. Be a little more cautious about what children handle on Hauraki Gulf beaches.”
ARPHS current health advice is:
- Children and pets still need to be supervised on Hauraki Gulf beaches.
- Adults, children and pets should not eat anything found washed up on any Hauraki Gulf beach.
- Parents need to be aware of where their children are swimming or playing and what they are handling.
- Sea slugs on any beach must be avoided. If you find one, mark the spot, leave well alone, phone the city or district council and ask for an Environmental Health Officer who will collect the slug safely.
"With daylight saving on the onset of spring, more people will be out and about taking advantage of the longer evenings and warmer weather on some of our beautiful Auckland beaches. It's second nature to most people to ensure children and animals are carefully watched when swimming and playing to avoid hazards and accidents. However, we're wanting people to be a little more cautious about what they handle on Hauraki Gulf beaches" says Dr Simon Baker – ARPHS Medical Officer of Health.
TTX is known to be a potent poison found in tropical puffer fish but not previously described in sea slugs. TTX is extremely toxic to humans and even a very small dose would be fatal.
While no sightings of sea slugs have been reported recently on Auckland beaches, sea slugs are a wide-ranging organism in the marine environment of New Zealand, and a dog died in early October on the Coromandel Peninsula from TTX poisoning. Sea slugs may be found washed up on beaches anytime, anywhere, probably related to their breeding cycle and prevailing weather patterns.
Early symptoms of TTX poisoning include numbness and tingling around the mouth, and nausea. This numbness and tingling can then spread to the face, tongue and other areas, with paralysis, in co-ordination and slurred speech. Medical attention should be sought immediately should any person become unwell after going to the beach – particularly after contact with a sea slug.
Dr Baker thanked the public for their cooperation with these ongoing warnings.
Information for a First Aid Response for Tetrodotoxin (TTX) Poisoning is available on the ARPHS website.
For public enquiries contact:
Auckland Regional Public Health Service
09 623 4600
