The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said the public may start consuming shellfish from Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City, Leyte as it now free of the red tide toxin.
The BFAR made this pronouncement in its Shellfish Bulletin 28 issued on Monday.
But the agency attached to the Department of Agriculture (DA) said consumers should continue to avoid shellfish from some coastal waters of Samar and Leyte.
The BFAR said Irong-Irong and Cambatutay Bays in Western Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; coastal watesr of Leyte in Leyte; and Carigara Bay in Leyte are still positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.
“All types of shellfish and Acetes species or alamang gathered from [these] areas are not safe for human consumption,” the BFAR said in its Shellfish Bulletin 28.
The agency said fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption, provided that these are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs, such as gills and intestines, are removed before cooking.
The BFAR said all other areas and coastal waters remain free from red tide.
Eating shellfish products with red tide can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), an illness that 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.