The American state of Oregon prohibits mussel harvesting after a larger outbreak of shellfish poisoning.
Several people have fallen ill with a serious type of poisoning, reports Sky News.
According to authorities, the scope of the outbreak has no precedent in the state's history - both in terms of the number of people affected and the number of affected species.
At least 20 people have fallen ill with paralytic shellfish poisoning, a particularly serious form of poisoning caused by toxic algae. Many more are believed to be affected.
Authorities have also banned the harvesting of oysters, razor clams, and butter clams along parts of the state's coastline.
Higher levels of the toxin saxitoxin were first detected in shellfish along Oregon's coast in mid-May. Symptoms of poisoning - vomiting, convulsions, diarrhea, and numbness in the tongue and lips - can occur as little as 30 minutes after ingestion. Later, coordination disorders, muscle weakness, and breathing difficulties follow. In rare cases, this can lead to death from cardiac arrest.
Even neighboring state Washington has closed its beaches to shellfish harvesting, reports Sky News.
