MSNBC "Bizarre fish poisoning sparks alarm "

DRC Archive General Saltwater Discussion
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Interesting scary read:

“Ciguatera fish poisoning” "the incurable illness caused by coral algae toxins that accumulate in large tropical reef fish. "

“they put peanut-linked salmonella infections to shame”

"symptoms — diarrhea, vomiting and fatigue — but also with a dangerously slow heart rate and neurological problems that caused her hands and feet to tingle painfully and, oddest of all, reversed her sense of hot and cold. Some patients also say they feel like their teeth are falling out — and the symptoms can linger for years. "

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thats crazy she couldnt even walk on the tile floor it felt like it was burning her feet! it makes me think twice about wanting to eat seefood now lol

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Don’t get scared off see food all together, "Fish-lovers hoping to avoid ciguatera poisoning can take a couple of steps. First, ask where the fish is from. If a restaurant or supplier can’t say, be wary.

Second, eat small portions of different fish instead of larger servings of a single fish. That will perhaps lessen the dose of any toxin present.

Finally, consider avoiding certain fish altogether. "

Here is the list of fish they mention:
The following species may pose a danger of ciguatera fish poisoning:

— Moray eel
— Barracuda
— Grouper
— Kingfish
— Jacks
— Snapper
— Surgeonfish
— Parrot fish
— Wrasses
— Hogfish
— Narrow barred Spanish mackerel
— Coral trout
— Flowery cod
— Red emperor
"

Also this has been coming, from my understanding, out of the Gulf of Mexico.

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The larger predatory fish you eat the more likely you are to get the bad stuff cause they eat all the other fish!

I remember when I first learned to SCUBA dive my instructor in Bahamas had just had that disease for a week. It sounded very uncomfortable.

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The fish list sounds similar to the ones to avoid (at least for children and women under 40-45) because of mercury. Same reasons too. Big predatory animals eat smaller animals who eat bad stuff. Stuff builds up in the bigger animals.

"Don’t eat:
• Swordfish
• Tilefish
• King mackerel
• Shark
• Raw or uncooked fish or shellfish (e.g. clams, oysters, scallops)
• Refrigerated uncooked smoked fish (labeled Nova-style, lox, kippered or jerky)

Eat up to 1 serving (6 ounces) per week:
• Tuna Steaks
• Canned albacore or chunk white tuna
• Halibut
• Snapper

Eat up to 2 servings (12 ounces) per week:
• Shrimp, crab, clams, oysters, scallops
• Canned light tuna
• Salmon
• Mahi Mahi
• Pollock
• Catfish
• Cod

Check before eating fish caught in local waters.
• State health departments have guidelines on fish from local waters. Or get local fish advisories at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Website (www.epa.gov).
• If you’re unsure about the safety of a fish from local waters, only eat 6 ounces per week and don’t eat any other fish that week.

Eat a variety of small, young non-fatty fish.
• Ask your fishmonger to recommend lean, small fish that are caught young."

Grouper has higher levels of mercury as well.

I think the key is the “Eat a variety of small, young non-fatty fish.” statement.

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I like probably everyone else never heard this before.
Although it would be a cool April Fool’s to make someone feel cold when they are hot and vise versus