JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

HAWKE’S BAY DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD & HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

9 November 2007

Avoid gathering food from the Ruahapia Stream, Karamu Stream or Clive River

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board’s medical officer of health, Dr Caroline McElnay has issued a public health warning advising members of the public to avoid taking any food from the Ruahapia Stream (Near the Showgrounds /Ellwood Road area) downstream to the Karamu Stream and Clive River.

This includes watercress, puha, whitebait and eels.

Dr McElnay said the warning follows the discovery of around 100 dead eels on Friday afternoon in the Ruahapia Stream, near Ellwood Road in Hastings.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has taken water samples and will be carrying out tests to ascertain the cause of these eel deaths. “In the meantime, we’re advising people to avoid eating any food gathered downstream of the Ellwood Road end of the Ruahapia Stream.”

Any member of the public finding dead eels should phone the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s after-hours number 835 9200.

ENDS

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