Thursday, June 15, 2006
Health dep’t warns public of ciguatic fish poisoning
THE Department of Health–Center of Health Development in Western Visayas (DOH-CHDW) advised the public to be cautious in eating fishes from questionable sources; avoid eating internal organs several parts of the fish especially the roe or “bihod” and report to the nearest RHU/DOH-RSU, Bureau of Food and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) possible cases.
DOH’s warning came after there had been seven reported cases of ciguatic fish poisoning in Oton this month.
The DOH revealed that on the same month last year, cases of such poisoning were reported in Oton and Tigbauan, Iloilo, prompting them to conduct proper investigation and documentation.
According to DOH, this year’s patients were brought to a private hospital when they manifested signs and symptoms of ciguatera poisoning after eating “Bingaw of Maya-maya” (Red Snapper).
Majority of them complained of abdominal pain, headache, body weakness, numbness, difficulty of breathing and spasm in their extremities. Some felt hot a sensation in their stomach. Of the seven cases, only four were admitted for treatment. No fatality was reported. The fish was bought from a fish vendor in Oton public market. Fish samples were sent to BFAR for laboratory examination.
The poisoning is caused by ingestion of fishes or other marine harvests contaminated with or possess high level of toxin-producing benthic/epiphytic dinoflagellates known as ciguatoxin. It is present in many organisms particularly, the micro-algae Gamierdiscus toxicus living in tropical waters. Ciguatoxic fishes are thought to acquire toxin through the food chain. These dinoflagellates are eaten by small fishes, which in turn become food for the larger fish.
Larger fishes are more likely to be toxic and to have a higher concentration of toxin. Fish commonly implicated are barracuda, red snapper (Maya-maya), amberjack and grouper, The most toxic part of the fish is usually the liver followed by the intestines, testes or ovaries (roe or “bihod”) and muscle. The toxin is harmless to fishes. However, consumption of the said fish causes illness to humans.
Ciguatoxin intoxication presents primarily as an acute disease manifested by a constellation of gastro-intestinal (diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting) neurological (paresthesias, pain in the teeth, pain on urination, blurring of vision, hot/cold temperature reversal) and cardio-vascular (arrythmias, heart block) signs and symptoms within few hours of ingesting contaminated fish. The freshness, cooking, salting, drying or canning does not affect its toxicity.
An ounce of prevention is always worth more than a pound of cure.
(June 15, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
