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2 kids die after eating poisonous puffer fish in Basilan

Philippines | Luzon

2 kids die after eating poisonous puffer fish in Basilan

By Liza Jocson

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Two children died and three family members are in critical condition after reportedly eating a poisonous fish in Lamitan City, Basilan on Tuesday, July 30.

Police disclosed that the victims, members of the Uwing family, ate puffer fish, locally known as “butingga" or “butete,” for dinner on Monday night and experienced the effects of its toxin called tetrodotoxin at dawn the following day.

The two children kept on vomiting and suffered loose bowel movement. They died hours later.

The 34-year-old mother and two other children were brought to the Lamitan District Hospital in critical condition.

Tetrodotoxin is a strong poison found in the liver and sex organs of some fish species, including puffer fish.

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Lamitan City Basilan Deaths Puffer fish Butete

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