Sanitary bans issued for Bil-Bil Beach and Río Negro shellfish

Authorities in Benalmádena, Spain, have issued a temporary ban on swimming at Bil-Bil Beach. The decision follows a decree by the Territorial Delegation of Health and Consumption of the Junta de Andalucía after sanitary controls detected altered levels of E. coli. The local council has raised a red flag and signaled the area, stating the prohibition will remain in place until new analyses confirm there is no health risk.

In Río Negro, Argentina, a preventive ban has been implemented for the extraction, collection, commercialization, and consumption of bivalve mollusks in the Pozo Salado Protected Natural Area within the San Matías Gulf. This measure was triggered by the detection of paralytic shellfish toxin (PSP) levels exceeding safe limits for human consumption.

The toxin, often associated with ‘red tide’ microalgae blooms, accumulates in mollusks without altering their appearance, smell, or taste. Consumption can lead to symptoms such as tingling in the extremities, muscle weakness, nausea, and, in severe cases, respiratory paralysis. The ban will remain until further testing confirms safe conditions.