Two victims of poisoning die

CEBU, Philippines – Two of six victims from Lapu-Lapu City who were brought to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center due to food poisoning after eating sea hare locally known as donsol died hours after they landed in the hospital.

The victims are all residents of barangay Soong, Lapu-Lapu City and were rushed to the city’s district hospital before they were transferred to the DVSMMC last Sunday morning.

The fatalities were identified as Abunjo Gulbe, 53, and Nerigen Rumbo, 10.

Gulbe, who had difficulty of breathing, was immediately at DVSMMC, but eventually expired at 4 p.m. Last Sunday.

Rumbo died at 5:50 a.m. yesterday.

Dr. Emmanuel Gines, Medical Specialist III of DVSMMC, said that the four other victims are safe and would be discharged in a day or two.

He said that the doctors had a hard time finding the antidote as nobody could confirm what kind of fish was eaten by the victims last Saturday.

DOH Regional Director Dr. Susana Madarieta, who talked with officials of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), said that it is not likely that red tide caused the poisoning.

Dr. Madarieta said that there might have been toxins left when the fish that they ate was not properly prepared.

Residents of Lapu-Lapu said that these sea hares release an ink-like substance, which the BFAR said could contain toxins as this substance is the animal’s defense mechanism against predators.

BFAR has already taken samples for study in Manila.

Dr. Madarieta told the public to be careful about what they eat.

Meanwhile, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday said that the Provincial Government will extend aid to the victims. She has tasked the Provincial Social Welfare Office to handle the matter. — Mark Z. Gantuangco, Sarah Jane A. Nengasca/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)