DOH: Shellfish, krill from 3 Mindanao bays unsafe

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Health on Wednesday issued a shellfish ban in three bays in Mindanao due to red tide toxin.

Citing a report from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the health department said shellfish, including clams and mussels, and “alamang” (krill or shrimp fry) harvested from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, Balite Bay in Davao Oriental and Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental have been found positive for paralytic shellfish poison.

“All types of shellfish and alamang gathered from the areas are not safe for human consumption,” the DOH said in an advisory on Wednesday.

Symptoms of red tide poisoning include headache, dizziness, facial numbness, nausea, vomiting, weakness, abdominal cramps and paralysis, difficulty in breathing, which could lead to death.

“These symptoms will be felt within 12 hours after eating red tide contaminated shellfish,” the advisory said. It also said a patient must be immediately rushed to the nearest hospital when the first few symptoms are observed.

Meanwhile, fish, squid and crab are still safe to eat provided that they are “fresh and washed thoroughly and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” the DOH said.