LABASA – The Health Ministry has warned people to check fish before they eat after 19 patients were treated for fish poisoning in the last eight days.
Health spokesman Peni Namotu said the 19 patients were treated at the Labasa Hospital since December 26.
“We recorded 19 patients who came to our General Outpatient Department at the Labasa Hospital. Of this number, four were admitted and the rest were treated and sent home,” he said.
Namotu said fish poisoning cases are usually recorded during the festive season. Some cases in previous years had been fatal.
“The families that had come in with fish poisoning could not identify whether the fish was poisoned because it was already smoked,” Namotu said.
“The family knew the fish was poisonous but they were told by the fisherman that it was not from the sea but from freshwater.”
He appealed to the members of the public not to consume fish meat during this period because of the likelihood of it being poisonous, especially damu, a red-coloured species.
“This is the season when the fish are poisonous. People must refrain from buying this fish (damu) during this period.
“Patients seen and undergoing treatment at the Labasa Hospital complained of diarrhoea, joint pains and tingling sensation of the fingers and toes.
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