BY GLENDA TAYONA & IME SORNITO
ILOILO – The presence of red tide toxin on some coasts of Western Visayas has been confirmed.
Samples collected along the waters of Panay, Pilar, President Roxas, Ivisan, Sapian and Roxas City in Capiz; Altavas, Batan and New Washington in Aklan; and Gigantes Island, Carles in Iloilo have saxitoxin that exceeded the regulatory limit of 60 micrograms of saxitoxin equivalent (STX-eq) /100g of shellfish meat, based on the laboratory examination conducted by the National Fisheries Laboratory Division using the Receptor Binding Assay method.
Shellfish collected from these coastal waters are not safe for human consumption, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-6.
The bureau explained that high levels of saxitoxin cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). This leads to a range of neurological symptoms, including numbness, tingling, weakness, and paralysis. In severe cases, paralysis can affect respiratory muscles, leading to difficulty breathing and potentially fatal outcomes.
“To safeguard human lives and mitigate impacts to the shellfish industry while waiting for the issuance of the National Shellfish Bulletin, the public is strongly advised to stop eating, gathering or harvesting, transporting, and marketing all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as alamang or hipon, from the said areas,” the advisory further read.
However, it added that fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided they are fresh, washed thoroughly, and their internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.
The Capiz Epidemiological Surveillance and Response Unit of the Provincial Health Office earlier reported alleged red tide poisoning, which hospitalized 32 residents.
Twenty-eight were from Pilar, including one fatality; three were from Pontevedra, and one from Roxas City. They were admitted to the Bailan District Hospital in Pontevedra.
Aside from them, five individuals in Iloilo province – four from Balasan and one from Carles – also experienced symptoms of red tide poisoning last week.
The BFAR-6 and concerned local government units assured that they continuously monitor the shellfish growing areas to safeguard public health and protect the fishery industry./PN
