PE Health Department investigates more than 200 cases of poisoning during red tide

The State Department of Health of Pernambuco reported, this Thursday (1st), that it mapped 278 suspected cases of algae poisoning between January 26th and 30th.

The information was released after a technical visit by members of the secretariat, the Pernambuco Health Surveillance Agency (Apevisa), the General Directorate of Environmental Surveillance and Occupational Health and III Regional Health Management (III Geres) to the municipality of Tamandaré, on the south coast of State.

Known as “red tide” or “tingui”, the phenomenon occurs when algae release toxins, mainly due to the increase in ocean water temperatures at this time of year.

According to the folder, a survey and analysis of the care records of patients who sought the municipal hospital with reports of headache, malaise, body pain, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, eye irritation, throat irritation, nose and skin with direct or indirect contact with the sea, in the period mentioned. All 278 cases will be analyzed, for this reason, the number of cases may be changed until the end of the investigation.

The representatives also visited the Tamandaré Fishermen's Association, at the invitation of the president, Maria Madalena, who was responsible for alerting the State's health authorities about cases of poisoning. At the time, it was reported that around 200 fishermen showed symptoms of poisoning.

In the meeting with SES representatives, the fishermen said they believed the phenomenon was stronger than in previous years. There have been records of similar episodes in the region since the 1940s.

The technical team for Prevention and Response to Environmental Emergencies of the Superintendency of the Brazilian Institute of the Environment (IBAMA) reported that it was aware of occurrences on the beaches of Tamandaré and Maracaípe, both on the south coast of Pernambuco.