2 die, 3 hospitalized after eating puffer fish

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Two minors died while their mother and two siblings were in critical condition after consuming grilled puffer fish in Lamitan, Basilan on Monday night.

Oliver Torres, chief of the Lamitan City disaster risk reduction and management office, told The STAR that the family had grilled puffer fish for dinner at their house in Barangay Balas.

A few hours later, the victims experienced numbness, difficulty in breathing, dizziness and vomiting. Two of them died at dawn yesterday. The rest were rushed to the Lamitan District Hospital, where they were listed in serious condition.

Health officials expressed belief that tetrodotoxin – a toxin found in the liver and sex organs of the puffer fish and other marine species – could have caused the poisoning.

Village officials said seven other people who also consumed the same fish are being monitored, although they did not show any symptom of food poisoning.