• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The coastal waters of Bacolod City, E.B. Magalona, Talisay City, Silay City, Hinigaran, and Victorias City in Negros Occidental; and of Tambobo and Siit Bays in Siaton, and Bais Bay in Negros Oriental remain free of the toxic red tide.
But the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, in its latest shellfish bulletin March 15, said that shellfishes collected and tested from coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate; of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; San Pedro Bay in Samar and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; and coastal waters of San Benito in Surigao del Norte are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), or toxic red tide, that is beyond the regulatory limit.
“All types of shellfish and alamang gathered from these areas are not safe for human consumption,” BFAR director, Atty. Demosthenes Escoto, stressed.
He added that fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption, provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.
Aside from Bacolod and Negros, also free from PSP are the coastal waters of Mandaon in Masbate, Sorsogon Bay, and Juag Lagoon in Matnog in Sorsogon, of Borongon, San Dionisio in Iloilo, Sapian Bay (Ivisan and Sapian) in Capiz; Mambuquiao and Camanci, Batan in Aklan; of Altavas, Batan, and New Washington in Batan Bay, Aklan; and the coastal waters of Pontevedra, Panay, Pilar, Roxas City and President Roxas in Capiz, among others.
The Department of Health, in a Philippine News Agency report March 16, also warned the public against consuming shellfish from areas hit by red tide.
“Bring patients with symptoms after eating unsafe shellfish to the nearest emergency room immediately. Prevention is the best. Do not eat tahong, talaba, halaan, other shellfish, and alamang from areas identified with toxic red tide,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in the report.
The signs and symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning have a rapid onset and can be felt within 12 hours after consuming unsafe shellfish, the DOH said, adding that these include numbness around the mouth or face, dizziness, pricking sensation and/or paralysis of hands and feet, body weakness, rapid pulse, difficulty talking, swallowing, or breathing, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. | CGC
