26 fall ill after eating barracuda in Iloilo town

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Twenty-six individuals in Balasan, Iloilo fell ill after eating barracuda, locally known as bansa, purchased from the town’s public market, health authorities said.

Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, chief of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office, said eight patients were first brought to the emergency room of Jesus M. Colmenares District Hospital on the afternoon of Aug. 24.

They experienced allergy-like symptoms after consuming the fish.

The cases were immediately coordinated with the Balasan Primary Care Facility for intervention.

“Following an investigation, the number of affected individuals rose to 26, including members of the family selling the fish,” Quiñon said in a statement Tuesday, Aug. 26.

“All were managed as outpatients or in the emergency room.

No patients were admitted.”

She said samples have been submitted to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for toxin analysis.

“We need to determine whether the fish caused the food-borne illness, what type of toxin was present, or whether there were contaminants,” she added.

The provincial health office has urged residents to avoid buying or eating barracuda until the BFAR releases its findings.

The Balasan Primary Care Facility also issued an advisory warning the public against consuming large predatory reef fish such as barracuda due to the risk of ciguatera fish poisoning.

According to the advisory, barracuda are not inherently toxic, but may accumulate ciguatoxins in their flesh as they feed on smaller reef fish that have ingested toxin-producing organisms.

Ciguatoxins are heat-stable and cannot be destroyed through cooking, freezing or other food preparation methods.

Symptoms of ciguatera poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tingling or numbness and temperature reversal — a condition where hot feels cold and cold feels hot.

While rarely fatal, symptoms can last for weeks or even months.

Authorities advised the public to opt for small, non-predatory fish from non-reef habitats and to be extra cautious after storms or reef disturbances, which may elevate toxin levels.

Anyone experiencing symptoms is urged to seek immediate medical care for proper diagnosis and treatment.