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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating a ciguatoxin poisoning case affecting two people who are suspected to have consumed a coral reef fish.
The case involved a man and a woman, aged 50 and 49, who developed symptoms of ciguatoxin poisoning including diarrhoea and facial and tongue numbness about two to nine hours after eating a fish during dinner at home on April 28.
The duo sought medical consultation at Yan Chai Hospital and required hospitalisation. Both are now in stable condition.
Investigation revealed that the fish was purchased from a market in Tsuen Wan on April 28.
A CHP spokesman said ciguatera fish poisoning is not uncommon in tropical areas. It is mainly associated with the consumption of big coral reef fish that have accumulated the toxin in the body, in particular in internal organs, through eating small fish that consumed toxic algae in coral reef seas.
A larger fish is therefore more likely to carry higher amounts of the toxin. However, it is not easy to tell from the appearance of the fish if it contains the toxin.
People affected may show symptoms of numbness of the mouth and the limbs, vomiting, diarrhoea, reversal of sensation of coldness and hotness and pain in the joints and muscles.
The spokesman said that most people affected by ciguatoxin would recover without long-term health effects.
However, if excessive toxin is consumed, the circulatory and nervous systems can be affected.
"The toxin cannot be destroyed by cooking," the spokesman said.
To prevent ciguatera fish poisoning, members of the public should observe the following measures:
* Eat less coral reef fish;
* Eat small amounts of coral reef fish at any one meal and avoid having a whole fish feast in which all the dishes come from the same big coral reef fish;
* Avoid eating the head, skin, intestines and roe of coral reef fish, which usually have a higher concentration of toxin;
* When eating coral reef fish, avoid consuming alcohol, peanuts or beans as they may aggravate ciguatoxin poisoning;
* Seek medical treatment immediately should symptoms of ciguatoxin fish poisoning appear; and
* Coral reef fish should be purchased from reputable and licensed seafood shops. Do not buy the fish when the source is doubtful.
Ends/Monday, April 30, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:33
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