Saxitoxin Poisoning (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning)

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is the most common and most severe form of shellfish poisoning. PSP is caused by eating shellfish contaminated with saxitoxins. These potent neurotoxins are produced by various dinoflagellates. A wide range of shellfish may cause PSP, but most cases occur after eating mussels or clams. PSP occurs worldwide but is most common in temperate waters, especially off the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts of North America, including Alaska. The Philippines, China, Chile, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia have all reported cases. Symptoms usually appear 30–60 minutes after eating toxic shellfish and include numbness and tingling of the face, lips, tongue, arms, and legs. There may be headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe cases are associated with ingestion of large doses of toxin and clinical features such as ataxia, dysphagia, mental status changes, flaccid paralysis, and respiratory failure. The case-fatality ratio is dependent on the availability of modern medical care, including mechanical ventilation. The death rate may be particularly high in children.

Saxitoxin Poisoning is monitored to prevent and control outbreaks.

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Saxitoxin Poisoning (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning), Single Year
	Alachua	Florida
Data Year	Count	Count
2023	0	0
2022	0	1
2021	0	3
2020	0	0
2019	0	0
2018	0	4
2017	0	0
2016	0	1
2015	0	0
2014	0	0
2013	0	3
2012	0	0
2011	0	0
2010	0	0
2009	0	0
2008	0	0
2007	0	0
2006	0	0
2005	0	0
2004	0	1

FLHealthCharts.gov is provided by the Florida Department of Health, Division of Public Health Statistics and Performance Management.
Data Source: Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology

7/16/2025 2:06:23 AM

Data Note(s)

Merlin Code 98840
This disease became reportable prior to 1992. Counts and rates include confirmed and probable cases of Saxitoxin Poisoning (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) .
Data presented here are from Merlin, Florida's web-based reportable disease surveillance system. Note that any data prior to 1992 are not maintained in Merlin and should be interpreted with caution.
Data in this report are aggregated by the date the case was reported to the Bureau of Epidemiology, Florida Department of Health. Cases are assigned to Florida counties based on the county of residence at the time of the disease identification, regardless of where they became ill or were hospitalized, diagnosed, or exposed.
Reports for reportable disease data are produced weekly, monthly, and annually. To access these reports, visit Surveillance Publications. More detailed information on interpreting data can be found in the introduction section of the annual reports. For questions, please contact the Bureau of Epidemiology at (850) 245-4401.
This is primary, quantitative data.

Chart will display if there are at least three years of data.
Multi-year counts are a sum of the selected years, not an average.
Quartiles are calculated when data are available for at least 51 counties.