The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warns residents of at least three coastal areas in the Visayas and Mindanao against eating shellfish and alamang due to possible contamination of toxic red tide.
In an advisory released on Monday, the BFAR identified the three areas with red tide contamination as Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur.
Meanwhile, fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and the internal organs such as gills and intestines removed before cooking.
The BFAR issued a similar warning on August 5.
Eating shellfish with red tide toxins can cause a possibly fatal illness called paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Persons suffering from PSP will experience symptoms such as the tingling of lips and tongue minutes after eating poisonous shellfish.
The symptoms may affect other areas of the body depending on the amount of toxins a person has ingested: first, a tingling of fingers and toes, then loss of control of arms and legs, followed by difficulty in breathing.
Paralysis of chest and abdominal muscles may also take place. Symptoms can worsen within two hours.