(PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY – The city government on Wednesday warned Dabawenyos against consuming “tahong” or green mussels after samples tested positive for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP).
Dr. Ma. Corazon Sepulveda, the officer in charge of the City Veterinarian’s Office (CVO), reported that laboratory tests on samples of “tahong” from Samar province confirmed the presence of PSP.
"The city's main source for ‘tahong’ is the province of Samar. However, shellfish from other provinces, unaffected by the red tide, are still available in our public markets," Sepulveda said in a radio interview.
She reassured the public that fish, squid, shrimp, and crabs are safe for human consumption, provided they are fresh, thoroughly washed, and their internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.
Shellfish contaminated with PSP are hazardous for human consumption, potentially leading to life-threatening conditions.
Early symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning include tingling of the lips and tongue, which can occur within minutes to a few hours after consuming the contaminated shellfish. This may progress to tingling in the fingertips and toes, loss of control over arms and legs, and breathing difficulty.
"The CVO’s Red Tide Monitoring Team immediately confiscated the green mussels being sold in the city’s public markets after receiving the test results," Sepulveda said.
She noted that about 911 kg. of “tahong” were confiscated from various public markets across the city.
The CVO is continuously monitoring the situation in coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and has notified Samar province about the positive PSP test results.
On Aug. 8, BFAR issued Shellfish Bulletin 19, series of 2024, identifying areas where shellfish tested positive for PSP, among them Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, coastal San Benito in Surigao del Norte, Daram Island, Zumarraga Island, Cambatutay Bay in Samar, Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, Cancabato Bay in Leyte, coastal Tungawan in Zamboanga Sibugay, and Irong Bay and Villareal Bay in Samar. (PNA)
