Health dept says shellfish poisoning in Biliran over

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 31 (PNA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) has declared the problem of paralytic shellfish poisoning in Biliran province as over, following the release of the last patient from hospital.

After the toxins killed two persons and hospitalized six others, the health department said no new case has been reported in more than a week. Local health authorities discharged the last victim from the Biliran Provincial Hospital on December 22.

“In our desire to celebrate the Yuletide season in a healthy way, please avoid eating shellfish gathered from infested areas, unless the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources confirms that it is already safe,” said DOH regional director Minerva Molon.

Molon has reported 40 suspected cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning in the towns of Cabucgayan, Kawayan and Maripipi.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' (BFAR) regional office here said that for several months, the contamination has thrived in Irong Irong and Cambatutay Bays in Samar; Carigara Bay in Leyte; the coastal waters of Leyte; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; and the coastal waters of Naval, Biliran. Early this month, it expanded to Calubian, Leyte.

BFAR regional director, Juan Albaladejo, reminded local government units and coastal communities not to take the shellfish ban lightly.

The fisheries bureau reported that an old man and a girl from Biliran died last week of paralytic shellfish poisoning after eating leaf oysters harvested in the Naval waters and nearby Carigara Bay in Leyte. (PNA)

 CVL/SQM/Robert S. Bona (OJT)