Eastern Visayas map. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
TACLOBAN CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Eastern Visayas (BFAR-8) has warned the public not to eat, collect, or sell all types of shellfish in two major bays in the region.
In an advisory on Monday, the BFAR said they recorded the presence of Pyrodinium bahamense, a toxic microorganism that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in San Pedro Bay in Basey, Samar, and Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City, Leyte.
“To safeguard human lives, we are issuing this warning as a precautionary advice to the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating, all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as alamang or hipon from Cancabato Bay and San Pedro Bay to avoid possible shellfish poisoning,” it said.
The BFAR said eating squid, crab, fish, and shrimps taken from these two bays are safe to eat provided that they are fresh, and all entrails are removed and washed thoroughly with running water before cooking.
It said they were closely monitoring the affected areas “to safeguard public health and to protect the shellfish industry” together with the local governments.
Red tide is a term used to describe a phenomenon where the water gets discolored by high algal biomass or the concentration of algae.
Consuming toxic shellfish could lead to paralytic shellfish poisoning, which affects the nervous system within 30 minutes after consumption.
Symptoms of PSP include tingling of the lips and tongue and which spreads to the face, neck, fingertips, and toes. It will also lead to headache, dizziness, and nausea, among others.
In severe cases, BFAR said muscular paralysis and difficulty in breathing may occur within five to 12 hours.
Red tide happens when there is an overgrowth of algae, which causes the color of water to turn to red, or green or brown.
Some of these algae produce toxic chemicals, contaminating the shellfish that consume them.
So far, there is no antidote or direct treatment for PSP, but BFAR said symptoms may be treated by inducing vomiting and pumping the stomach.
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