Cadiz City, Hinigaran, and La Castellana officials in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, April 7, advised their constituents to temporarily avoid eating fish locally known as “aloy” or “tulingan” following confirmed cases of allergic reactions.
Mayor Salvador Escalante said there were about 77 Cadiz residents hit with allergies after consuming aloy fish on Monday.
Three cases each were reported in Hinigaran and La Castellana.
Escalante said residents who consumed the fish experienced dizziness, vomiting, rashes, itching, flushing and breathing difficulties, possibly due to histamine fish poisoning from improperly handled or stored fish.
Aloy fish samples have been collected for testing, he said.
Dr. Maria Victoria Ibañez, Cadiz City Health Officer, said 44 affected residents sought consult at the City Emergency Clinic and 12 at the Cadiz District Hospital.
There were also those who self-medicated, she said.
She said five patients suffered from anaphylactic shock, two of whom were hospitalized, and three were stabilized in the emergency clinic.
They have all recovered, she said.
Initial investigation showed that the aloy fish were caught on Wednesday in Iloilo and delivered to Negros on Saturday, Escalante said.
The first batch sold on Sunday did not cause problems, but the ones sold on Monday triggered the allergic reactions, he said.
Escalante said he has created a composite team to investigate who was behind the delivery of aloy fish to Cadiz City and other parts of Negros.
The fish was sold at P100 a kilo, he said.
The team was also created to inspect fish being sold in markets, he added.
La Castellana Vice Mayor Rhummyla Nicor Mangilimutan said their Municipal Health Officer has issued a temporary ban on eating aloy fish.
Three La Castellana residents have suffered from allergies after eating the fish, she said.
In Hinigaran, Mayor Mary Grace Arceo said three people developed an allergic reaction after eating aloy in Brgy Tugbungan on Monday.
Two of them were from Himamaylan and one from Hinigaran, Arceo said.
The Hinigaran City Health Officer has advised residents not to eat aloy for now as a precaution, she said.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Negros Island Region said its technical team is investigating the recent reports of food poisoning cases in Cadiz City, linked to the consumption of aloy or tulingan.
Based on preliminary reports, the symptoms are consistent with Scombroid Fish Poisoning, it said.
“This is not a naturally occurring toxin in the fish itself, but it happens when the fish is not properly kept chilled from the time it is caught until it reaches the market,” the BFAR said.
“When fish like aloy or tulingan are left in the heat, they produce high levels of histamine, which cannot be removed even by cooking or frying,” the BFAR added.
Vendors should ensure that they are selling fresh fish all the time. They should avoid exposure of fish to high temperatures to prevent spoilage, it said.
Buyers should also avoid buying and eating fish that has a metallic/peppery taste, smells pungent, or has soft, mushy flesh, BFAR added.
The BFAR said it is working hand-in-hand with the local governments to ensure local markets are safe.*
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