14 cases in last two months The state Department of Health is warning people not to eat reef fish caught off Kauai’s North Shore after 14 people became ill with ciguatera fish poisoning over the past two months from eating
14 cases in last two months
The state Department of Health is warning people not to eat reef fish caught off Kauai’s North Shore after 14 people became ill with ciguatera fish poisoning over the past two months from eating fish from the area.
The stricken were treated at hospitals or went to their own doctors for treatment, according to Jo Manea, a health department epidemiologist specialist.
None of those who became sick suffered long-term effects, officials said.
The victims included 11 males and females ranging between 5 to 81 years of age.
Ciguatera toxin attacks the nervous, digestive and cardiovascular systems. Symptoms include numbness and tingling around the mouth, hands and feet, joint and muscle pains with weakness or cramps, vomiting and reversal of temperature sensation.
Drinking alcoholic beverages may make symptoms worse, officials said.
Ciguatera is produced by microscopic organisms (dinoflagellates) that grow on the surface of marine algae found in reefs. The poison works its way up the food chain, getting into the reef fish when they feed on the algae. The toxin can then accumulate in larger fish that eat the reef fish. The tainted fish is caught and eaten by humans, who become sick.
The recent poisonings were caused by roi (grouper), ulua (jackfish) and kole (surgeon fish), according to Manea.
Fish poisoning cases occur more along the Na Pali Coast between May and August, possibly due to calm water that allows accessibility to fishing, officials said.
“The toxic dinoflagellate is apparently blooming extensively along those North Shore reefs, and so all the reef fish in these areas are suspect,” Manea said.
She added that all reef fish should be considered unsafe to eat because they might have the toxin.
Feeding toxic fish or fish guts to animals, particularly cats, could poison them.
Fsh are not affected by the toxin, which can’t be detected by taste or smell, officials said.
To prevent ciguatera poisoning, people should be aware of the types of fish that cause ciguatera and know the locations where the fish might have been caught, officials said.
Ciguatera test kits are available for purchase at fishing shops.
Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net
