Because there is currently a large bloom of poisonous red dinoflagellates (also known as red tide) in Sabah, the American Embassy in Kuala Lumpur would like to bring this information to your attention: Sabah's Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail has advised the public to observe the statewide ban against consuming and selling of any types of shellfish or bivalves and clam-like seafood. The U.S. CDC says brevetoxins from the organisms that cause red tide can concentrate in shellfish and can cause what is believed to be a self-limited disease called Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning.  People exposed to aerosolized red tide toxins when they work at or visit the beach experience respiratory irritation (burning and watery eyes, burning nose and throat, cough); there is also evidence that people with asthma or chronic lung disease may get asthma-like symptoms or sometimes even flu-like symptoms that last even after leaving the beach. In addition, CDC has anecdotal reports of skin irritation and rash associated with swimming in waters affected by red tides.

According to the Sabah Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry, the coastal waters of western Sabah, including the area around Kota Kinabalu and Labuan, has a large patch of red tide with a current toxicity hovering beyond 1,000 mouse units. The Sabah State Fisheries Department issues a public warning once the level of toxicity exceeds 600 mouses and is constantly monitoring and sample-testing the waters. Brunei's coastal waters also have been affected. Also, the Sarawak Marine Fisheries Department says there is currently a patch of non-toxic red tide about 25 nautical miles off the coast of Miri in northern Sarawak with no indication as yet that it will move onshore. The red tide usually subsides with the onset of the monsoon season. Further information can be found at: http://www.fishdept.sabah.gov.my/pubsafe.htm.