Health authorities in Tonga have warned that eel is the most common seafood they found to have caused several fatalities in cases admitted to the hospital of patients eating poisonous food.
The warning has come after a 44-year-old man from Eua died on Monday.
The deceased and seven others ate a contaminated eel after one of them purchased it from Tongatapu and brought to ‘Eua.
Another victim was admitted to Vaiola Hospital suffered pain and nausea, Radio Tonga reported.
Dr Saia Piukala was quoted by the radio as warning people should make sure they give seafood a good cleaning before cooking them.
He said seafood like eel could be contaminated because they are exposed to toxic chemicals in the sea.
Details of the victims have yet to be released but reports said the incident happened on Sunday and the deceased was transported from ‘Eua to Vaiola Hospital.
Ongoongo Faka-Tonga / News in Tongan
Kuo fakatokanga ‘a e kau mau mafai ki he mo’ui ‘i Tonga ‘o pehe ko e taha ‘a e tokee he me’atahi ‘oku lahi e mate pe matu’utamaki ai ‘a e ni’ihi ko e kau mahaki ‘oku leleaki’i ange ki fale mahaki ko e kona mei hano kai o ha me’akai kona.
Ko e fakatokanga ‘eni hili ia ha malolo ‘a e tangata ta’u 44 mei ‘Eua i he ‘aho Monite.
Na’e ma’ume’atokoni ‘a e pekia fakataha mo ha toko fitu kehe mei ha toke ne fakatau e he tokotaha ‘o kinautolu mei Tongatapu o ohake ki ‘Eua.
Na’e ‘i ai mo e tokotaha ‘i he kau kai ne leleaki’i mo ia ki fale mahaki a ia na’e lua mo tokotoka kovi’ia.
Na’e ha foki ha lau ‘a Dr Saia Piukala ‘i he letioo Tonga ‘o ne fakatokanga ai ki he kakai ke fakapapau’i oku ma’a ‘a hono ngaahi ‘o e me’atahi pea toki ngaohi ke fai mei ai ha ma’u me’atokoni.
Na’a ne pehe foki ko e me’atahi hange ko e toke ‘oku ala ke kona tuunga ‘i he ngaahi kemikale mo e ngaahi me’akona ‘oku nau ma’u ‘i tahi.
Na’e ‘ikai ha toe fakaikiiki ki he pekia pehe kia kinautolu ne nau ma’u me’atokoni mei he toke ni ‘e tuku mai ka ko e me’a ni ne hoko ‘i he ‘aho Sapate pea ‘ohake ai ‘a e tokotaha ko ia ne pekia ki Falemahaki Vaiola ‘o ne toki pekia ai.
