Press Release

Update on ciguatoxin poisoning cases

2 October, 2004

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (October 2) reminded the public to be vigilant against ciguatoxin poisoning.

As of today, CHP have received a total of 13 cases of food poisoning believed to have been caused by fish containing ciguatoxin. A total of 49 people, aged from 5 to 80, were affected.

A CHP spokesman said: "CHP had conducted investigations into each of the cases. It was found that the patients developed symptoms of ciguatoxin poisoning, such as mouth and limbs numbness and diarhoea, after eating large coral reef fish between September 19 and 29. Some of them sought medical attention from private doctors or hospital."

"We have alerted the public and provided health advice on the prevention of ciguatoxin poisoning on September 22, following reports of five such cases.

"In view of the subsequent cases received by CHP, the public are reminded to be cautious in consuming large coral reef fish as they could contain ciguatoxin which may cause food poisoning," the spokesman added.

He said that 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.

"The toxin cannot be destroyed by cooking", the spokesman said.

To prevent ciguatera fish poisoning, the spokesman advised that the following should be observed:

• Avoid consuming large coral reef fish; the bigger the fish, the higher the risk of ciguatera poisoning.
• Avoid eating the internal organs especially liver and gonads of big coral reef fish because the toxin tends to accumulate there;
• Eat only a small quantity of coral reef fish at any one meal;
• Do not consume coral reef fish together with alcoholic beverages and nuts, and,
• Seek medical care when symptoms appear.