Warning About Gulf Fish
Fish from the Gulf of Mexico are the cause of outbreaks of ciguatera fish poisoning. This was confirmed today by the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. The outbreaks of the illness were confirmed in Washington, D.C., and St. Louis.
The biggest threat of tainted fish comes from grouper, snapper, amberjack and barracuda. Why these particular fish? It is because they feed on fish that have eaten toxic marine algae. Though the toxin causes no harm to the fish, the humans that eat them can develop neurological problems that could last for months or even years.
Symptoms of ciguatera poisoning include nausea, vomiting, vertigo and joint pain.
Although it is considered rare for fish in the northern Gulf of Mexico to have the toxin, the FDA did confirm that the tainted fish are from the area around the Flower Garden Banks National Marine in the northwestern Gulf.
Those who think they may have ciguatera poisoning are urged to report their symptoms and what fish they ate to a doctor or local health department.
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