Shellfishes have been found with higher content of norovirus, alarms the Community and Public Health division of Canterbury District Health Board. The infected fishes are found in the water areas of Avon/Otakaro, the Heathcote/Opawaho and Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai.

The heath authorities have warned people of the region no to consume shellfishes until a notice on grant to consume the fishes is issued. The component called norovirus is found in the excretion and vomits of the people suffering from certain disorder.

People can suffer from serious illness, if exposed to the infected water, food or any surface where the component existed. People may be susceptible to fever, shivering, headache and muscle pain as a consequence of consuming the fishes. In some cases diarrhea and stomach ache can also take place.

As per Dr. Alistair Humphrey of Canterbury Medical Officer of Health, "This is because of the ongoing direct discharge of sewage into the Avon and Heathcote rivers as well as the direct discharge into the Estuary as a result of the February and June earthquakes”.

He stated that examination conducted on the shellfish had affirmed of the presence of the component at a higher level in the shellfish. The authorities will keep a continuous check on the fishes in the water body of the region.