The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said it found red tide toxin in the coastal waters of Milagros in Masbate.
In its latest Shellfish Bulletin, the attached agency of the Department of Agriculture also warned the public against consuming seafood from areas that are still positive for toxic red tide.
Based on the latest laboratory results of BFAR and local government units, shellfish collected from the coastal waters of Bataan (Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Hermosa, Orani, Abucay and Samal); coastal waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in Bohol; Carigara Bay in Leyte; and the coastal waters of Guiuan, and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar remain positive for paralytic shellfish poison.
Seafood and shellfish from Dumanquilas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; coastal waters of Baroy in Lanao del Norte; Litalit Bay, San Benito in Surigao del Norte; and Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur must also be avoided, according to BFAR.
“All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from the areas shown above are not safe for human consumption,” it said.
“Fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.”
Eating shellfish products with red tide can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), which can cause death. Early symptoms of PSP include tingling of the lips and tongue, which may begin within minutes of eating poisonous shellfish or may take an hour or two to develop.
Depending upon the amount of toxin a person has ingested, symptoms may progress to tingling of fingers and toes and then loss of control of arms and legs, followed by difficulty in breathing. If a person consumes enough poison, the muscles of the chest and abdomen become paralyzed. Death can result in as little as two hours, as muscles used for breathing become paralyzed.