5 people treated in hospital for fish poisoning

A total of 9 people are known to have contracted fish poisoning, with 5 admitted to the Niuefoou hospital.

The group of people aged in their twenties and mid thirties had consumed red bass or Fagamea in a gathering last night.

The fish was caught in Alofi waters.

Dr Jason Tautasi of Niue Foou Hospital confirmed to BCN News the red bass fish contains the ciguatera poisoning. 

“At the moment we have a total of five patients admitted for ciguatera fish poisoning. Symptoms is diarrhea, vomiting and general body weakness , lethargy, basically dehydration from the loss of fluid so it’s not a condition to be serious , so they need a lot of fluid management , a lot fluid to replace all that’s lost and sometimes one of the worst side effects and symptoms of ciguatera poisoning is your heart rate will go really low and that can also drop down the blood pressure.” said Dr Tautasi

Fish poisoning also known as Ciguatera poisoning is caused by eating warm water ocean fish that have ciguatera toxins. The toxin is produced by a small organism called dinoflagellate, which attaches to the algae in warm ocean waters in reef areas.