Fish poisoning: cases of ciguatera soar in RN Brunno Rocha/Inter TV Cabugi The State Department of Public Health of Rio Grande do Norte (Sesap) recorded a 60.2% increase in cases of ciguatera in the first half of 2026, compared to the entire year 2025. Until June 11, the state recorded 141 occurrences of the disease, compared to 88 last year. ? Ciguatera is food poisoning caused by eating fish contaminated by a neurotoxin called ciguatoxin. According to the Epidemiological Surveillance Subcoordinator (Suvige), the substance is invisible, does not alter the color, flavor or smell of the fish and is not eliminated by traditional processes. The toxin remains active even after cooking, freezing or salting the food. ? Click here to follow the g1 RN channel on WhatsApp Since 2022, Rio Grande do Norte has had 259 reported cases, distributed across 46 outbreaks, with two deaths recorded. Of this total, 113 infections were confirmed. The data are from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan). Sesap's mapping shows that the majority of poisonings (64%) occur after consuming fish in a domestic environment. Restaurants and commercial establishments account for 36% of episodes. READ ALSO: FAMILY LUNCH: Five people from the same family feel ill after eating fish in Natal SUSPICIOUS CASES: Find out what Sesap's symptoms and recommendations are CIGUATERA: Expert says that tracking the origin of the fish is a strategy to combat contamination Sesap warns that the Bicuda (or Barracuda) species is the main transmitter of the toxin in the state, responsible for 45.13% of confirmed cases. Next, Arabaiana, Dourado, Red Snapper, White Fish, Galo do Alto, Pargo and Sirigado (or Sea Bass) appear. The profile of victims shows that women are the most affected, representing 59.3% of records. The age group with the highest incidence is adults between 20 and 59 years old (61.95%), followed by people aged 60 and over (23.9%). The capital, Natal, concentrates more than half of the state's notifications (52.21%). Next, the municipalities of Touros, Ceará-Mirim, Nísia Floresta, Parnamirim and Extremoz appear. Symptoms The first signs of ciguatera are gastrointestinal, such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which can appear from a few minutes to 48 hours after consuming the fish. However, neurological symptoms are the most prevalent and long-lasting, and can persist for years. Patients report intense itching, body pain, a sensation of a metallic taste in the mouth, numbness in the tongue and extremities, as well as thermal inversion — a sensory change in which a hot touch appears cold and vice versa. Fatigue, weakness, dizziness and headache are also common. More serious cases may present cardiovascular evolution, with episodes of low blood pressure (hypotension) and slow heartbeats (bradycardia). Recommendations to the population Sesap's main recommendations to the population are: immediately seek health services if compatible symptoms occur, reporting fish consumption in the last 48 hours; identify the species consumed and preserve leftover fish, packaged and frozen, for later collection by the Health Surveillance; avoid the consumption of fish associated with reports of Ciguatera poisoning, especially those of unknown origin. In March, concern about ciguatera already impacted fish sales Concern about ciguatera impacts fish sales