By CESAR JOLITO III
Fifteen residents in Negros Occidental’s Cadiz City were rushed to hospitals and emergency clinics on Monday, April 6, after reportedly suffering food poisoning linked to the consumption of “aloy” fish, locally known as tulingan, prompting local authorities to issue a public health warning.
Health officials said the affected individuals began experiencing symptoms shortly after eating the fish, including skin redness, rashes, itching, headaches, palpitations, eye and skin irritation, and difficulty breathing — symptoms consistent with a possible toxic or histamine-related reaction.
Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr. confirmed that local health teams are actively monitoring residents who may have consumed the same batch of fish.
Escalante said around 15 initial cases showed similar allergic-like reactions.
Medical responders reported that 10 patients were treated at the city’s emergency clinic and four were admitted to the Cadiz District Hospital for observation — some of whom had pre-existing conditions such as asthma — while one patient was managed on an outpatient basis.
Initial investigation showed the fish was transported from Iloilo on Sunday night, April 5, and sold in local markets early Monday morning, raising concerns over handling, storage and possible contamination during transport.
Authorities have since begun tracing suppliers and vendors involved in the distribution of the fish, while laboratory tests are being conducted to determine the exact cause of the illness.
Escalante said early findings suggest the cases may be consistent with histamine poisoning, a condition that can occur when fish is not properly chilled after being caught, allowing histamine levels to build up in the flesh.
He noted that symptoms may include flushing, hives, dizziness, headaches, and breathing difficulties.
The City Health Office (CHO) has issued a public advisory urging residents to temporarily avoid consuming “aloy” and “tulingan” fish while investigations are ongoing.
In its advisory, the CHO warned the public against purchasing, preparing or eating the said fish varieties and urged anyone experiencing symptoms to seek immediate medical attention and report similar incidents to health authorities.
Vendors and suppliers have also been advised to temporarily suspend the sale and distribution of the affected fish as a precautionary measure./CJ, WDJ