Juneau-From the Health Department of Alaska
With the advent of the summer season warning of the danger of shell
fish poiBoning is again given the general public in Alaska by the Ter-t
tritorial Department of Health.
"In spite of vigorous warnings by the Health Department to avoid r
certain kinds of shellfish during the warmer months of the year, four
cases of severe shellfish poisohing with one death were reported in a
small community in Southeast Alaska last June;*? says Richard S. Green,
Director of the Division of Public Health Fngineering, Alaska Territor
ial Department of Health.
"In a Territory ns large as ours it is obviously impossible for tho
Health Department to make sure that everyone refrains from eating shell
fish which may be poisonous. Y/e can, and do, prohibit the taking of
shellfish for commercial purposes during tho seasons when they are apt
to be dangerous. But our only way of preventing trouble arising from
the occasional bucket of clams secured for private use- is to see that
everyone understands the cause of shellfish poisoning—and knov/s how
to. avoid it.
"True shellfish poisoning is caused by free floating miscroscopic
organisms which frequently arc present in very large numbers in the
waters of the ocean, and which bear the name Gonyaulax Catonclln. The
shellfish themselves arc not affected b y the Gonyaulax toxin, which
is sc very poisonous to man and other mammals, and, a few weeks after
being exposed to the organisms, apparently rid themselves of tho poison.
This is essentially the reason for refraining from eating some shell
fish during the warmer months cf tho year—when the organisms appear
in most abundance-and why those same shellfish arc Safe during the
rest of the year. There is no sure way to toll.when shellfish ore
free from Gonyaulax poison without an elaborate laboratory test. 1
"A few important facts about clams,.mussels or oysters should be
known by everyone. If these facts arc understood hnd heeded, we should
have no more eases of sheilfish poisoning."
"Most of the Gonyaluax poison in clams is found in the neck or
siphon, while in the mussel and oyster-the largest concentration is in
tnc darm internal glands. to do sale, ao not oat tnosc part3 or arinx
the nectar of shellfish which arc dug or gathered between May end
November. This is especially important wl th clams secured from areas
on or noar the open Facific Ocean, and it is best to,avoid these al
together between June 1, and August 31. V/c hope to have more specific
data on these points about Alaskan shellfish bods as -a result of our
proposed work this year.
"Thoroughly wash the white meat, especially of mussels in cold
fresh water before cooking. This is important because cooking dees not
destroy the Goflyaulax toxin. .•
"Remember that nothing about the appearance of the shellfish or the
area from which they are gathered can show whether 'Gonyaulax organisins
have entered the shellfish. (Care- should be taken, however, to see that
no shellfish arc taken from beds v/h/’ch .arc exposed to' sewage contami
nation. )
"This poison usually works very quickly. At the first sign of prick
ly feeling or numbness on tongue, lips or finger tips, following con
sumption of shellfish, it is important to bring about vomiting im
mediately, A doctor should be called at once, if possible, so that ho
may render more advanced treatment. •
"Take no chances with shellfish. It is .better to be sure,"
Three-quarters of a million service men’s wives and infants have re
ceived care under the emergency maternity and infant care program since
longrcss first appropriated money for it two years ago, and of that
number more than 300 have been given medical attention in Alaska, it
was announced today by Dr. N. Bernota Block, Director of the Division
of Maternal end Child Health and Crippled, Children Services, Alaska
Territorial Department of Health.
A plan of administration by this territory was approved in July, IJC.
1943 b the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor, which
establishes policies in conjunction with state health officials. The
Cent, on pp. 11