Red tide in Pangasinan: 1 dead, 25 hospitalized

By Eva Visperas and Liezle BasaInigo

BOLINAO, Pangasinan -- The mayor here has ordered a ban on the harvest, sale and consumption of all types of shellfish after a person died and 25 others were hospitalized when they ate  tahong (mussel) here as poisoning victims reached 33 last week in the province. 

Mayor Noli Celeste said he sent copies of the order to barangay captains and ordered the setting up of checkpoints to prevent the transport of shellfish to and from the town.  

He said the fatality was identified as Manilyn Conde, 20, a resident of Barangay IlogMalino. Those who became ill from suspected food poisoning were residents of Barangays Ilog Malino, Zaragoza, Lambes and Pilar. 

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources regional director Nestor Domenden said shellfish samples collected from the waters of Bolinao and Anda were found positive for red tide toxin.

Domenden said they also re-imposed the shellfish ban in Alaminos City, adding the ban has not been lifted in the towns of Bani, Anda and Bolinao.

In Lingayen, Pangasinan Domenden urged fishermen here to refrain from collecting and selling shellfish from the western coast of Pangasinan as food poisoning victims reached 33 last week.

Officially, there was no red tide alert raised as most recent water samples taken from the area were still being examined.

Domenden urged a ban on harvesting of seashells and small shrimps (alamang) from the waters off Alaminos City and the towns of Bolinao, Bani and Anda.

Provincial Health Officer Ana de Guzman warned one woman had died of suspected paralytic shellfish poisoning and Mayor Celeste of Bolinao had instructed police to set up checkpoints to stop any transport of shellfish in the area.