DOH: Ciguatoxin causes food poisoning in Mina town
The Department of Health-Center for Health Development VI (DOH-CHD 6) revealed that ciguatoxin caused the food poisoning of 22 individuals in Brgy. Bangac, Mina, Iloilo very recently.
According to DOH-CHD6 Regional Epidemiology Center chief Dr. Glen Alonsabe, their initial investigation based on the sample they got revealed that the victims ate fish that has ciguatoxin in it.
According to www.medterms.com, ciguatoxin is a seafood toxin that is acquired by eating fish that have consumed toxic single-celled marine organisms called dinoflagellates or fish that have consumed other fish that have become toxic. When someone eats these fish, they suffer seafood poisoning. Food poisoning from ciguatoxin is called ciguatera.
Further, ciguatera can cause gastrointestinal, neuromuscular symptoms and respiratory problems. The gastrointestinal problems include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The neuromuscular problems may include tingling around the lips, abnormal or impaired skin sensations, hot-to-cold reversal, vertigo, lack of muscle coordination, weakness and numbness, muscle pain, and itching. There may be respiratory paralysis. Ciguatera symptom strike shortly after eating tainted fish. Symptoms may recur up to 6 months. Death is uncommon, but is known.
It was gathered that the victims consumed a fish locally known as “maya-maya.”
But Alonsabe said that “maya-maya” per se is not poisonous during these times, most “maya-maya” are on spawning stage and are deemed aggressive in digesting fishes or sea grasses that have ciguatoxin.
“Makuha ini sa mga sa mga ginakaon sang magagmay nga isda like mga sea grasses kag algae nga ara sa aton ocean floor,” he added.
Alonsabe added that due to the change of climate, fishes could accumulate ciguatoxin faster.
He claimed that there is no long-term effect to individuals who have consumed fish that is contaminated with ciguatoxin.
“But those who have existing illnesses like asthma, it could trigger asthma attack,” he added.
On the other hand, for those who suffered stroke, it could further promote motor weakness because of the neurotoxin in it.
To avoid ciguatera, Alonsabe pushed for cooking fresh and thoroughly cleansed fish.
He also discouraged the entrails or parts of the intestinal organs to be included sin the cooking.
Meanwhile, Bureau of Fish and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional director Dr. Drusila Bayate said that they would conduct their own investigation once they get a copy of the examination from the DOH.
She also debunked the possibility of a red tide in Western Visayas.
Last Monday, 22 persons were rushed to the hospital after they went ill Monday morning.
The victims – 13 from two de Pedro families and 9 members of Rafante family – are neighbors at Brgy. Bangac, Mina, Iloilo.
They claimed to have consumed a variety of fish, locally known as “maya-maya”, which they bought from an ambulant vendor, a certain Freddie of Janiuay town, Iloilo, last Sunday morning.
At around 10:00 a.m. of Monday, the three families started complaining of stomach pain and some of them, especially the young ones, were already vomiting.
The victims are not recuperating at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City.
