TACLOBAN CITY – At least 30 individuals reportedly suffered from red tide poisoning, also known as paralytic shellfish poisoning, after consuming contaminated tahong or green mussels in Barangay Parasan, Daram, Samar, on Wednesday, September 25.
The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit said affected individuals were eight children and 22 adults.
Nineteen sought medical consultation and were admitted to the Samar Provincial Hospital in Catbalogan City, Samar. Eleven were treated as outpatients.
The Department of Health-8 said patients experienced symptoms such as headache, body numbness, extremity numbness, dizziness, vomiting, and abdominal pain after eating tahong harvested in the sea of Tinaogan, Zumarraga, Samar.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-8 maintained that the sea of Daram and Zumarraga are included in the seven seas and bays in the country that remain positive for red tide.