Fish Toxin Can Cause Serious Food Poisoning

The New York Times reports that, between August 2010 and July 2011, 28 New Yorkers fell ill from a colorless, odorless and tasteless toxin found in fish called ciguatera. The article cites the example of one man who became very ill after eating fish at a Manhattan restaurant on July 12, 2011. The grouper he ate was contaminated by ciguatera, which can produce severe symptoms including vomiting cramps and dizziness. According to a data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more ciguatera poisoning cases are being reported than in the preceding decade in New York City.
It is not clear what is causing the spike, but experts say the reason may be the diversity of fish species marketed. The toxins that lead to the poisoning are most commonly found in coral reef fish such as barracuda, grouper, snapper, amberjack and surgeonfish. However, it is not easy to identify the contaminated fish before they are consumed because there is no simple or quick field test that can be conducted to determine the presence of the toxin. The symptoms experienced by victims in six outbreaks during 2010 and 2011 included gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neurological problems. The majority of patients with ciguatera experience symptoms within six to 48 hours.
Food Poisoning Statistics
According to the CDC, 48 million Americans get sick from food-borne illnesses each year. CDC estimates that one in six Americans will get sick from known and unknown bacteria, viruses and microbes each year resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. CDC officials say norovirus causes about 60 percent of food poisoning-related illnesses and salmonella is the leading cause of hospitalizations. Although 31 different bugs are to blame for about 9.4 million people getting sick from the food they eat, about 38.4 million Americans get sick from still unknown pathogens.
Steps to Take
There are several steps you can take if you or a loved one has suffered food poisoning. First, it would be a good idea to contact your local health department as soon as possible. It is also important to gather information and evidence by going to the restaurant or location where you believe you ate the contaminated food and talking to others there who may have consumed the same food item. If you have any of the contaminated food left over, make sure it is isolated and preserved for testing.
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of food poisoning, the knowledgeable New York personal injury attorneys with the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our law firm has successfully handled many food poisoning cases in the past. Please call our offices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496) to discuss your case. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
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Source: The New York Times