announced Lebanese Ministry of HealthLast Tuesday, a person died and another was injured after they ate “puffer fish”. How does poisoning with this type of fish happen? And what are its symptoms?
And the Lebanese Ministry of Health expressed, in a statement seen by Anatolia, “very sorry for the death of a person and the injury of another as a result of eating a meal of fish, which turned out to be a type of poisonous puffer fish.”
The ministry warned that “the Lebanese sea contains this type of poisonous fish.”
The puffer fish invades the coast of Lebanon
The ministry called on fishermen and consumers to “check the types of fish they sell or buy… It is preferable that the fish be divided according to the types known to the public.”
The Ministry of Health attached its statement with pictures of this poisonous fish to warn against it.
About 15 years ago, this type of poisonous fish began invading Lebanon’s 220-kilometre coastline on the Mediterranean, according to press reports.
According to previous data from the Ministry of Health, the symptoms of poisoning begin to appear 4 to 20 hours after eating the fish, and they differ from one person to another, according to the strength of the body’s immunity, or the amount of poison ingested.
puffer fish poisoning
The toxin found in puffer fish is tetrodotoxin, according to a report inweb med” (Webmd).
Tetrodotoxin is one of the most toxic toxins in nature. Most people who eat puffer fish do so on purpose; Blowfish is an Asian delicacy, and is served in some types of sushi.
Unless the chef is specially trained to cut meat in a certain way, the dish may contain a large amount of poison.
According to to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tetrodotoxin is a very potent toxin that is found mainly in the liver and gonads of some fish, such as puffer fish, “globe fish” and “frogfish” and in some species of amphibians, octopuses and shellfish.
How does tetrodotoxin work?
Tetrodotoxin binds to sodium channels in the membranes of nerve cells, and as a result blocks the flow of sodium ions into the nerve cells, for this reason it is called tetrodotoxin.A sodium channel blocker.
This prevents the nervous system from carrying messages, thus preventing the muscles from responding to nerve stimulation, leading to muscle paralysis.
When does tetrodotoxin poisoning occur?
Tetrodotoxin poisoning occurs when meat or organs from fish, or both, are improperly prepared and eaten. Tetrodotoxin interferes with the transmission of signals from nerves to muscles, and causes progressive paralysis of the body’s muscles. Tetrodotoxin poisoning can be fatal.
Symptoms of puffer fish poisoning
Symptoms generally occur 10-45 minutes after ingesting puffer fish poison, and begin with numbness and tingling around the mouth, drooling, nausea and vomiting.
Symptoms may progress to paralysis, loss of consciousness, respiratory failure, and death.
To the Lebanese: Beware the poisonous “puffer fish”!
The Ministry of Health issued a statement expressing “great regret for the death of one person and the injury of another as a result of eating a meal of fish, which turned out to be a type of poisonous puffer fish.”
The statement warned that the Lebanon Sea contains this type of poisonous fish
— almarsadonline (@almarsadonline2) April 19, 2022
puffer fish poisoning treatment
- The affected person should vomit if they are awake, and if they have eaten fish about 3 hours ago.
- The person may become paralyzed. In this case, artificial respiration may keep the person alive until medical care can be obtained in a hospital emergency department.
- Quickly turn the person on their side if vomiting occurs.
Dangerous fish in the sea of Lebanon
. The puff contains a poison that paralyzes the nerves. Eating it may lead to death
Pollen, catfish, and sea lion have poisonous spines on the back, neck and under the neck. Beware of touching them. pic.twitter.com/lW4IxOVRcy— Saiid abou saiid (@saiid_saad) April 19, 2022
When to seek medical attention in the event of puffer fish poisoning?
Seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Social media activists comment on puffer fish poisoning
Activists and tweeters on social media circulated the news widely to warn people against buying or eating puffer fish. Because they contain toxic substances and cause death in most cases.
Activists published various pictures of the fish of all kinds to warn against buying it in the event that it is traded in the markets, according to what was monitored by the Sanad Monitoring and Verification Unit in the Al-Jazeera network.
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Issued by the media office of #Ministry of Health The public expressed a statement expressing its deep regret over the death of one person and the injury of another as a result of eating a meal of fish, which turned out to be a type of “poffer fish”, and the Ministry warned that “the sea of Lebanon contains this type of poisonous fish.” pic.twitter.com/uRvkhV4Zz7– VARTAN Z (@OfficialVartan) April 20, 2022
Source : Island + Anatolia + Websites + Sanad Agency