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MANILA - The Department of Health has advised against harvesting, selling, buying, and eating shellfish in some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao  due to paralytic shellfish poison or toxic red tide.

The following areas are affected: 

• Milagros, Masbate

• coastal waters of Dauis, and Tagbilaran City, Bohol

• Dumanquillas Bay,  Zamboanga del Sur

• San Pedro Bay, Samar

• Matarinao Bay, Eastern Samar

•  San Benito in Surigao del Norte

BFAR said all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from the areas are not safe for human consumption.

Fish, squid, shrimps, and crab in these areas are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

BFAR also advised against the signs and symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning.

 "Bring patients with symptoms after eating unsafe shellfish to the nearest emergency room immediately. Prevention is the best: do NOT eat tahong, talaba, halaan, other shellfish, and alamang from areas identified with toxic red tide. Always read advisories from DA-BFAR and the DOH. All hospitals are directed to prepare for these cases and to report them accordingly," DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said.