All bays from East Matagorda Bay to Galveston Bay have remained unaffected by the red tide, and will open as scheduled. Oysters sold through licensed wholesalers have been harvested from areas free of contaminants. The red tide algae has killed fish and caused respiratory, eye, nose and throat irritation for humans along the lower coast since September. Although most of the closed bays are free of visible red tide concentration, people in the areas still are warned not to harvest shellfish.
Toxins produced by the algae remain concentrated in the filter-feeding shellfish.
Kirk Wiles, of the TDH Division of Seafood Safety, said that red tide toxins may remain at dangerous levels for weeks or months after a red tide bloom disperses or moves on. Symptoms of the illness may include nausea, dizziness, tingling sensations in the extremities, dilated pupils, fevers or chills. Although Wiles said that NSP is not known to be fatal, its symptoms can warrant medical care. The TDH Bureau of Epidemiology has reminded medical personnel and EMS units in areas near the coast about characteristics of NSP and its treatment. Wiles added that fish, shrimp and crabs harvested from any part of the coast remain safe for consumption.