Fish from the Gulf May Make You Sick
Posted on: Wednesday, 6 February 2008, 11:25 CST
Since November there have been 28 reported cases countrywide of ciguatera fish poisoning according to the FDA. The consumers who reported the illness all ate fish harvested in the northern Gulf of Mexico near the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. The affected area covers 56 square miles of the northwestern part of the Gulf.Those contaminated include fish such as snapper, amberjack, grouper and barracuda – all fish that feed on other fish that consume toxic marine algae. These larger carnivores have the greatest risk for poisoning humans because the amount toxins are higher in their tissues .
The symptoms associated with the poisoning include joint pain, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, and in some cases severe neurological problems. Many of the outbreaks reported were in Washington, D.C. and St. Louis.
This particular type of poisoning is common in fish living in the Caribbean Sea, the South Pacific, and the Indian Ocean; however it is extremely rare in the Gulf of Mexico.
The FDA has made recommendations that fish originating near the sanctuary should not be purchased. They also recommend that processors reassess hazard control plans. They suggest that consumers who believe they might be poisoned in this way should report their symptoms to a local health department or doctor.
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On the Net:
FDA
Ciguatera fish poisoning...
www.cdc.gov/nceh/ciguatera/default.htm
www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/aquatic/index.html
Examples of Fish that Have Been Known to Carry Ciguatoxins
Source: redOrbit Staff
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