Ciguatera Fish Poisoning

Ciguatera Fish Poisoning is a foodborne illness caused by eating reef fish contaminated with toxins produced by marine algae called dinoflagellates. These toxins, primarily ciguatoxins, accumulate in fish like grouper, barracuda, and snapper. When ingested, they can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and dizziness. The effects can last days or weeks, and there’s no specific antidote. Prevention involves avoiding high-risk fish from regions where ciguatera is common. Cooking or freezing doesn’t destroy the toxins, so awareness and proper fish sourcing are key.