Amid red tide advisory
TACLOBAN CITY — At least 30 people, including eight children, fell ill after consuming green mussels, locally known as ‘tahong,’in Daram, Samar, on Wednesday, September 25.
According to reports from the Department of Health (DOH) regional office, all the victims are residents of Barangay Parasan.
They had eaten tahong harvested from the waters of Tinaogan, Zumarraga, also in Samar province.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) had previously issued a red tide advisory for seven major bodies of water in Eastern Visayas, warning of red tide contamination.
Both Daram and Zumarraga were identified as areas affected by the harmful algae.
Of the 30 victims, 19 were admitted to the Samar Provincial Hospital in Catbalogan City, including the eight children.
The remaining 11 were treated and discharged, returning to Parasan, an island village about 30 minutes by sea travel from the town center.
“The patients exhibited symptoms such as headaches, numbness in the body and extremities, dizziness, vomiting, and abdominal pain,” the DOH reported on Thursday, September 26.
Further investigation into the incident will be conducted by the DOH’s regional epidemiology and surveillance unit.
It was revealed that the family involved had been holding a novena and had brought three sacks of tahong from Tinaogan, Zumarraga, to serve as part of their meal. The mussels were later shared with neighbors around noon, leading to the outbreak.
The municipal government of Daram had previously issued warnings advising residents to refrain from consuming tahong until BFAR lifts the red tide advisory.
In its latest advisory issued on Wednesday, BFAR identified seven major bodies of water in the region contaminated with red tide.
Aside from Daram and Zumarraga, the affected areas include Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan, Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Maqueda Bay in Samar, and Carigara Bay in Leyte.
While the gathering and consumption of all types of shellfish from these areas are strictly prohibited, BFAR noted that fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs are still safe to eat—provided they are fresh, thoroughly cleaned, and their internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
