TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office 8 has released Shellfish Bulletin No. 31 dated September 15, 2017 stating that almost all monitoring areas in Western Samar are still under shellfish ban.
The bays of Irong-Irong, Maqueda, Villareal, and coastal waters of Daram are still positive with red tide toxin.
In connection, the public is strongly advised to refrain from gathering, marketing, transporting, and consuming shellfish such as green mussels and oyster, and Acetes s.p. or alamang from the said bays.
Moreover, Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan Samar is still under Local Red Tide warning since August 25, 2017. The water samples taken from the bay has presence of Pyrodinium bahamanse var. compressum, a Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning causing organism.
As of today, there are six confirmed Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) cases in Catbalogan Samar: one recorded fatality, a six year-old male from Brgy. Pupua, Catbalogan; and five (3 female and 2 male) patients have recovered from shellfish poisoning; all were poisoned from eating toxin contaminated green mussel or “tahong” collected from Irong-irong Bay.
Based on the Out-Patient Department Records of Samar Provincial Hospital, there are 33 PSP cases in Brgy. Mual-Bual, Zummaraga , Samar.
Withal, there are five (5) reported cases of PSP in Pinabacdao Samar and these patients are currently admitted in Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC).
The information regarding the latest Shellfish Bulletin has been disseminated on September 15, 2017 to the concerned government agencies, Local Government offices, media, and other concerned personnel.
