The Negeri Sembilan Health Department released a statement on Tuesday revealing that the Port Dickson District Health Office was notified by Port Dickson Hospital of 8 individuals suspected of suffering from collective mussel poisoning, with 2 individuals admitted to the intensive care unit.
Following the report, the Negeri Sembilan Fisheries Department has issued a temporary ban, prohibiting the production and sale of green mussels from Sungai Sekawang to Tanjung Teluk in the Port Dickson old port area.
All 8 affected patients are from different households. Preliminary investigations indicate that the patients had purchased mussels from two markets in the Port Dickson district. Shortly after consumption, they began experiencing symptoms such as headaches, numbness in the limbs, and overall weakness.
Among them, 5 individuals experienced mild poisoning and are being observed and treated in regular wards, while 1 person received outpatient treatment.
The Negeri Sembilan Fisheries Department issued directives on April 2nd, in response to reports from Port Dickson Hospital regarding individuals falling ill after consuming mussels harvested from the Port Dickson waters. Operators utilizing rack and raft aquaculture from Sungai Sekawang to Tanjung Teluk in the Port Dickson old port area are instructed to cease production, sales, and harvesting of mussels from Port Dickson waters.
The department emphasizes that this ban is temporary and will remain in effect until the completion of the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Negeri Sembilan Fisheries Department, Kashin Dawai, disclosed that samples of seawater and mussels have been collected for testing. Results are expected as soon as tomorrow. Currently, aquaculture and sales operators are complying with the directives by suspending their operations.
He mentioned that such incidents have not occurred before. There are a total of 19 registered mussels farmers in the Port Dickson waters, with an annual production of approximately 4 tons and a monthly yield of about 300 kilograms. These mussels are sold in the old port and Ningi coastal areas, with an average market price of about RM10 per kilogram.
