Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010
Background: Marine turtles of all species are capable of being toxic. On 17 October 2010, health authorities in the Federated States of Micronesia were notified of the sudden death of three children and the sickening of approximately 20 other people on Murilo Atoll in Chuuk State. The illnesses were...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Western Pacific Surveillance and Response |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/283/437 |
| _version_ | 1828124958377639936 |
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| author | Boris Pavlin Jennie Musto Moses Pretrick Joannes Sarofalpiy Perpetua Sappa Siana Shapucy Jacobus Kool |
| author_facet | Boris Pavlin Jennie Musto Moses Pretrick Joannes Sarofalpiy Perpetua Sappa Siana Shapucy Jacobus Kool |
| author_sort | Boris Pavlin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Marine turtles of all species are capable of being toxic. On 17 October 2010, health authorities in the Federated States of Micronesia were notified of the sudden death of three children and the sickening of approximately 20 other people on Murilo Atoll in Chuuk State. The illnesses were suspected to be the result of mass consumption of a hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). An investigation team was assembled to confirm the cause of the outbreak, describe the epidemiology of cases and provide recommendations for control.
Methods: We conducted chart reviews, interviewed key informants, collected samples for laboratory analysis, performed environmental investigations and conducted a cohort study.
Results: Four children and two adults died in the outbreak and 95 others were sickened; 84% of those who ate the turtle became ill (n = 101). The relative risk for developing illness after consuming the turtle was 11.1 (95% confidence inteval: 4.8–25.9); there was a dose-dependent relationship between amount of turtle meat consumed and risk of illness. Environmental and epidemiological investigations revealed no alternative explanation for the mass illness. Laboratory testing failed to identify a causative agent.
Conclusion: We concluded that turtle poisoning (also called chelonitoxism) was the cause of the outbreak on Murilo. The range of illness described in this investigation is consistent with previously reported cases of chelonitoxism. This devastating incident highlights the dangers, particularly to children, of consuming turtle meat. Future incidents are certain to occur unless action is taken to alter turtle-eating behaviour in coastal communities throughout the world. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T15:12:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4bf8f0a861b9488bbc081d031f974316 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2094-7321 2094-7313 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T15:12:33Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Western Pacific Surveillance and Response |
| spelling | doaj.art-4bf8f0a861b9488bbc081d031f9743162022-12-22T04:16:34ZengWorld Health Organization Regional Office for the Western PacificWestern Pacific Surveillance and Response2094-73212094-73132015-01-0161253210.5365/wpsar.2014.5.3.006Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010Boris Pavlin0Jennie Musto1Moses Pretrick2Joannes Sarofalpiy3Perpetua Sappa4Siana Shapucy5Jacobus Kool6Office of the WHO Representative in Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New GuineaDivision of Pacific Technical Support, World Health Organization, Suva, FijiDepartment of Health and Social Affairs, Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, Pohnpei, Federated States of MicronesiaDepartment of Health and Social Affairs, Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, Pohnpei, Federated States of MicronesiaChuuk State Hospital, Chuuk State Department of Health Services, Chuuk, Federated States of MicronesiaChuuk State Hospital, Chuuk State Department of Health Services, Chuuk, Federated States of MicronesiaDivision of Pacific Technical Support, World Health Organization, Suva, FijiBackground: Marine turtles of all species are capable of being toxic. On 17 October 2010, health authorities in the Federated States of Micronesia were notified of the sudden death of three children and the sickening of approximately 20 other people on Murilo Atoll in Chuuk State. The illnesses were suspected to be the result of mass consumption of a hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). An investigation team was assembled to confirm the cause of the outbreak, describe the epidemiology of cases and provide recommendations for control. Methods: We conducted chart reviews, interviewed key informants, collected samples for laboratory analysis, performed environmental investigations and conducted a cohort study. Results: Four children and two adults died in the outbreak and 95 others were sickened; 84% of those who ate the turtle became ill (n = 101). The relative risk for developing illness after consuming the turtle was 11.1 (95% confidence inteval: 4.8–25.9); there was a dose-dependent relationship between amount of turtle meat consumed and risk of illness. Environmental and epidemiological investigations revealed no alternative explanation for the mass illness. Laboratory testing failed to identify a causative agent. Conclusion: We concluded that turtle poisoning (also called chelonitoxism) was the cause of the outbreak on Murilo. The range of illness described in this investigation is consistent with previously reported cases of chelonitoxism. This devastating incident highlights the dangers, particularly to children, of consuming turtle meat. Future incidents are certain to occur unless action is taken to alter turtle-eating behaviour in coastal communities throughout the world.http://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/283/437hawksbill turtle poisoningFSM Chuuk poisoning |
| spellingShingle | Boris Pavlin Jennie Musto Moses Pretrick Joannes Sarofalpiy Perpetua Sappa Siana Shapucy Jacobus Kool Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 Western Pacific Surveillance and Response hawksbill turtle poisoning FSM Chuuk poisoning |
| title | Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 |
| title_full | Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 |
| title_fullStr | Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 |
| title_short | Mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle, Federated States of Micronesia, 2010 |
| title_sort | mass poisoning after consumption of a hawksbill turtle federated states of micronesia 2010 |
| topic | hawksbill turtle poisoning FSM Chuuk poisoning |
| url | http://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/283/437 |
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