Alert for toxic red tide in Colima; its duration is “indeterminate”

The population must keep an eye on the information, because the red tide is a natural phenomenon of onset and indeterminate duration (Photo: Secretary of Health Colima)

Toxic red tide has been detected in the Manzanillo coastTherefore, the Secretary of Health and Social Welfare of the State Government, through the State Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Coespris) have alerted the population to do not eat some shellfish and avoid going into the sea.

The Ministry of Health of Colima detailed that the presence of the tide it impacts the bays of the port to the boundaries with the state of Jalisco.

For its part, Coespris pointed out that the phenomenon was confirmed after the result of the analysis of the samples it collected and that they were analyzed jointly with the 6th Naval Region, through the Pacific Ocean Institute.

In these samples they identified the presence of paralyzing toxin-producing microalgae species, which also has a concentration higher than the established maximum in current health regulations.

Coespris pointed out that the phenomenon was confirmed after the result of the analysis of the samples (Photo: Special)

Due to the toxicity of the red tide, the Coespris issued as a precautionary measure the prohibition to consume bivalve molluscs, such as oysters, clam, margarita callus and ax callus, from areas of wild crops and / or temporarily stored in the waters off the coast of the state.

Likewise, it indicated that avoid buying such seafood in street stalls and on the beach, since its safe origin cannot be guaranteed, however, there are no restrictions on the consumption of fish, shrimp, octopus and crabs in establishments duly regulated and monitored by the health authority, provided that they are properly cooked.

The authorities pointed out that in addition to precautionary measures in food, and although there are no reports of damage to the health of bathers, it is recommended that people do not enter the sea, especially if they have abrasions on the skin, exposed wounds or in the process of healing, as well as skin, eye and ear problems.

Meanwhile, the Coespris detailed that it will continue with the surveillance closeness of this phenomenon, in order to give timely follow-up to this event and protect the health of the population with these actions.

Coespris explained that it will continue to closely monitor this phenomenon (Photo: Secretary of Health Colima) 

Likewise, he urged the population to remain alert to the information provided by the Ministry of Health, because the red tide is a natural phenomenon of appearance and indeterminate duration.

What is the toxic red tide?

According to the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris), the “red tide is called the“ set of most abundant organisms that inhabit the ocean and that at the same time are the smallest, main producers of organic matter that they represent the first link in the trophic chain, they are known as phytoplankton. “

He points out that phytoplankton is also known as marine microalgae and basically represents the microscopic plant organisms that inhabit the marine environment.

The red tide is a natural phenomenon of indeterminate appearance and duration (Photo: Google Maps) 

Thus, he points out that the red tide “describes all the events in which the water acquires certain tones due to the high biomass of marine algae; however not all of them are harmful ”.

It points out that on many occasions some are toxic or harmful events that occur without changes in the tonality of the water due to its low density, but in concentrations of toxins sufficient to favor toxic and harmful events.

To date, around 157 different species of algae have been identified off the Mexican coasts, of which only 45 are potentially toxic.