With two deaths due to shellfish poisoning recorded last week, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Tacloban City has raised the red-tide alarm over two of Samar’s rich fishing grounds.
Assistant Regional Director Drusila Esther Bayate said that aside from Villareal Bay in the southern part of the province, found contaminated with the red-tide toxin last week, Maqueda Bay in this city is now included in the list of affected areas.
The announcement came after 10 people were admitted to different hospitals in nearby areas during the past days. Two of them eventually died.
Bayate warned that harvesting, selling and consumption of any types of shellfish from Villareal and Maqueda Bays were prohibited. She clarified though that fish from these areas are safe for human consumption so long as they are cleaned thoroughly, with their innards removed.
Last week, eight members of the Arimala family of Barangay Cagutsan (Sierra Islands) of this city were rushed to the Samar Provincial Hospital and were later on transferred to Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center due to suspected shellfish poisoning.
One of the family members died—11-year-old Roselyn Arimala.
According to city health officer Gerarda Tizon, the family consumed a local shellfish named “Molobolo” for their dinner, which is reportedly edible, but the entire family subsequently felt dizziness and everyone started vomiting which prompted barangay authorities to immediately refer the family for medical treatment.
On the other hand, three members of the Miranda family in Sitio Sto. Nino, Barangay San Andres were rushed to the hospital on Monday after consuming mussels which they had bought at the public market here. A five-year-old boy died.
“Heightened monitoring on the situation in these fishing bays are up so as to safeguard lives. We, caution the public to avoid shellfish at this point,” Bayate said.