UK’s first ciguatera poisoning reported after family ate fish – as scientists urge more caution

DETAILS of the UK’s first confirmed ciguatera poisoning have been shared – with scientists warning tens of thousands of people could be at risk each year.

The incident involved the consumption of fish sold as red snapper steaks.

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The first confirmed ciguatera poisoning in the UK involved three members of a family[/caption]

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The incident involved the consumption of fish sold as red snapper steaks[/caption]

Ciguatera is a foodborne illness caused by eating contaminated reef fish. 

It’s caused by a toxin called ciguatoxin, which is produced by small algae that grows on coral reefs. 

Ciguatera poisoning is usually not life-threatening, but it can be serious in severe cases. 

Symptoms typically resolve within days or weeks, but can last for months or years. 

In the case that occurred in England in June 2017, three people from the same family, aged 11, 20, and 45 years old, ate separate red snapper steaks from the same package.

Two of the three cases were admitted to hospital and kept under observation for two days, while the other patient was discharged before a follow-up hospital visit.

The two older female patients experienced vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain, shortness of breath and paresthesia, which included skin pain, itching, numbness, as well as pins and needles.

The third younger patient had bone pain in the right shin, reduced power in the legs, and diarrhoea.

All three patients had gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting and/or diarrhoea) within six hours of eating the fish.

Investigations revealed the fish was harvested and processed in India and imported to the UK.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) was informed about the incident and a product withdrawal was issued for the brand linked to the intoxication.

UK authorities concluded the fish from the same batch shouldn’t be released for retail sale.

The study was published this month in the journal Marine Drugs.

As part of the findings, scientists said it’s estimated 10,000 to 50,000 people are affected by ciguatera poisoning each year.

These are people who live in or visit tropical or subtropical areas that have high cases of ciguatera fish poisoning.

Three steaks from a pack of four were consumed, with one left in frozen storage.

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The FSA was informed about the incident and a product withdrawal was issued for the brand linked to the intoxication[/caption]

The frozen one was sent to the Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture science (Cefas) for assessment.

DNA barcoding revealed it was in fact a Pinjalo snapper, not the marketed species of red snapper.

Testing also confirmed the presence of sodium channel specific activity consistent with ciguatoxin.

At the levels found, human illness would be expected.

The fish has been imported to the UK through a Midlands-based distributor.

Its original source was the Indian ocean, with the fish processed in a production and packaging facility in Alappuzha, Kerala, southern India.

No information had been made available about the origin of the fish by the processors despite repeated requests.

The scientists highlighted the importance of continued surveillance of importing to the UK from high-risk regions.

They added: “We report here for the first time the confirmed intoxication in the UK from ciguatera poisoning as a result of toxic carnivorous reef fish being important into the country and affecting the local population.

“We therefore highlight the importance of monitoring for the presence of these toxins, and the need to develop risk management strategies for protecting the human population from highly contaminated ciguateric fish.”