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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (December 15) is investigating three suspected ciguatoxin poisoning cases affecting six people who had consumed coral reef fish.
The first case involved one man and two women, aged from 20 to 50. They developed symptoms of ciguatoxin poisoning, including oral and limb numbness, nausea and abdominal pain, about six to 10 hours after eating coral reef fish at home on December 12.
Two of them sought medical treatment at Accident and Emergency Department (AED) of North District Hospital (NDH). They did not require hospitalisation and are now in stable condition.
In the second case, a man and a woman aged 56 and 51 respectively developed similar symptoms about three to four hours after consuming coral reef fish at home during dinner on December 12. The man was admitted to NDH and has been discharged today.
The third case affected a 63-year-old woman who developed similar symptoms about five hours after eating coral reef fish at home on Saturday (December 13). She sought medical attention at AED of NDH and is in stable condition.
Investigation revealed that the incriminated coral reef fish were purchased from a fish stall in Shek Wu Hui Market in Sheung Shui.
A CHP spokesman said ciguatera fish poisoning was not uncommon in tropical areas. It is mainly associated with the consumption of a big coral reef fish which has accumulated the toxin in its body, in particular internal organs, through eating small fish that consumes toxic algae in coral reef seas.
The larger fish is therefore more likely to carry higher amounts of the toxin. However it is not easy to tell from the appearance of the fish if it contains the toxin.
People affected may show symptoms of numbness of the mouth and the limbs, vomiting, diarrhoea, reversal of sensation of coldness and hotness and pain of the joints and muscles.
The spokesman said that most people affected by ciguatoxin would recover without long term health effects. However, if excessive toxin was consumed, the circulatory and nervous systems would be affected.
To prevent ciguatera fish poisoning members of the public should observe the following measures:
* Eat less coral reef fish.
* Eat small amounts of coral reef fish at any one meal and avoid having a whole fish feast in which all the dishes come from the same big coral reef fish.
* Avoid eating the head, skin, intestines and roe of coral reef fish, which usually have a higher concentration of toxin.
* When eating coral reef fish, avoid consuming alcohol, peanuts or beans as they may aggravate ciguatoxin poisoning.
* Seek medical treatment immediately should symptoms of ciguatoxin fish poisoning appear.
* Coral reef fish should be purchased from reputable and licensed seafood shops. Do not buy it when the source is doubtful.
Ends/Monday, December 15, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:31
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