Shellfish downs 7 in Bataan

BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Philippines – Seven persons were hospitalized after they reportedly ate shellfish contaminated with red tide toxin in Samal town on Tuesday.

Arnold Bucad, 67; Roberto Mena, 49; John Mark Rodriguez, 18; Michael Sanchez, 30; Mara Torres, 20; Dina Reyes, 28, and Ronald Rodriguez, 28, were taken to the Orani District Hospital in Orani town for treatment, according to Danilo Abrera of the provincial fishery office.

The victim’s jaw reportedly went numb after they ate sulib or sunset shell for lunch.

This is the first recorded incident of shellfish poisoning in the province after the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources declared a ban on eating shellfish harvested from the waters of Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga City, Pilar, Orion, Limay, and Mariveles on Nov. 4.

Abrera said the coastal waters in Orani was tested positive for red tide toxin last Oct. 28.

The ban affected about 3,000 fishermen from eight towns.