KAILUA-KONA — Health officials are cautioning the public that they have identified several cases of ciguatera fish poisoning from ingestion of ulua caught off Hawaii Island.
The ulua, also known as giant trevally, were reportedly caught recreationally off the island’s northwest coast, or North and/or South Kohala, according to the Department of Health.
Janice Okubo, DOH spokeswoman, said there were four cases involving adult residents. Two sought medical attention, with one visiting the emergency room and the other visiting their primary care physician. None was hospitalized.
Symptoms of ciguatera poisoning usually begin within a few minutes to six hours after ingesting an infected fish, according to the department. They may last for a week or so in mild cases, but may continue for several months or longer in some people. Ciguatera is rarely fatal.
Those symptoms include numbness, tingling, or a burning sensation around mouth, hands, or feet; joint or muscle pains with weakness or cramps; vomiting, diarrhea, chills, itching, headache, sweating, and dizziness; reversal of temperature sensation in the mouth, unusual taste sensations; and/or nightmares or hallucinations.
Ciguatera is caused by the poison ciguatoxin, which is found in marine algae, seaweed or coral. After consuming the algae or seaweed, fish become infected, and larger predator fish become carriers by eating the smaller fish.
Cooking, drying, salting or freezing does not kill the poison.
Since 2016, ciguatera has been found in uku (green jobfish), kole (surgeonfish), Hawaiian sea bass, Hawaiian black triggerfish, ulua (giant trevally), eel, barracuda and amberjack, the department said.