The controls have been intensified in Nicaragua by red tide

Tuesday, November 15, 2008  The Nicaraguan authorities announced today the intensification of the controls to avoid the extraction and sale of mollusks and shellfish, due to the presence of the call red tide, that causes serious intoxications in the people.

The measure obeys to that despite the prohibition decreed by the Department of Health (MINSA), the distributors continue extracting oysters, clams, conches, oysters and other products of the northwestern coast of the country to sell them in the markets of the capital.

The operating sanitary one involves besides the MINSA, to the departments of Natural Resources and of the Environment, Government, Transportation and Infrastructure, the Administration of the Fishing, the Police and the Army.

Terminals of bus, markets, restaurants and the zones of fishing of the department of Chinandega, 130 kilometers of northwest of Managua, will be the main places to watch for the authorities.

Up to now 42 people poisoned are reported, and according to the local radio, a boy of five years died after consuming products of the sea contaminated with the call paralyzing poison of mollusks.

The authorities, that extended to February from 2009 the prohibition to consume shellfish and mollusks, they have not confirmed the death of the smaller one.

The red tide is a natural phenomenon that this time of year is produces by, product of the excessive proliferation of certain microorganisms planctónicos that offer a reddish color al water. It is attributed to the changes of temperature of the sea, and can last several weeks.

The algae produce a highly poisonous toxin that passes to the alimentary chain of the human beings by means of the bivalves mollusks consumption and shellfish.

The products of the sea contaminated with the call paralyzing poison of mollusks do not change of color, smell neither aspect. I tickle, sensation of heat, sleepiness of the lips, tongue and expensive and difficulties to breathe are the symptoms that are declared to the few minutes to have I consume a dish contaminated by the red tide.

According to the epidemióloga Sara Moraga, not medicines for the intoxication caused by the toxin exist, for which all depends on the quickness with which the affected receive based on medical attention serum to extract him the poison.