Puffer fish alert after food poisoning outbreak in Rayong

RAYONG: -- Three villagers were taken to hospital with serious food poisoning Tuesday after eating papaya salad mixed with fermented puffer fish.

Local public health officials searched for the source of the toxic food, fearing more people could fall ill.

The three patients - suffering nausea, diarrhoea, weak muscles, and numb fingers - were admitted to Ban Khai Hospital after eating papaya salad (somtum) mixed with fermented puffer fish two days ago.

As the patients were recovฌering in hospital, Rayong public health expert Dr Krit Palasuth told a meeting at Ban Khai Hospital the freshwater fermented puffer fish had been ground up, which spread toxins all over the papaya salad. This caused the villagers to suffer tretodotoxin poisoning.

-- The Nation 2008-01-15

Interesting how this event pops up about 2-3 times a year in Thailand. Any country that has as many inherent risks built into the fabric of its culture and infrastructure (water parks, traffic hazards, electrical wiring, etc.) as Thailand, shouldn't get within a 1-mile radius of puffer fish. Unfortunately, I remember the last incident (earlier last year), puffer fish were being sold as another type of fish in the fresh market, and people were unwittingly serving them up at home or in restaurants. Talk about Russian Roulette!

I fear that I could get those symptoms just from plain somtam, without the puffer fish.

I avoid it on all occasions.

I fear that I could get those symptoms just from plain somtam, without the puffer fish.

I avoid it on all occasions.

My girlfriend spent most of yesterday making it for half the village it seemed. The smell was that bad I couldn't stay in the house.

I fear that I could get those symptoms just from plain somtam, without the puffer fish.

I avoid it on all occasions.

My girlfriend spent most of yesterday making it for half the village it seemed. The smell was that bad I couldn't stay in the house.

This is more likely to be som Tum Plaa which i dont think is puffer fish...... it might be, but I think it is a local river fish in Isarn they leave out to rot......

Does anyone know what the fish is they use?

I fear that I could get those symptoms just from plain somtam, without the puffer fish.

I avoid it on all occasions.

My girlfriend spent most of yesterday making it for half the village it seemed. The smell was that bad I couldn't stay in the house.

This is more likely to be som Tum Plaa which i dont think is puffer fish...... it might be, but I think it is a local river fish in Isarn they leave out to rot......

Does anyone know what the fish is they use?

She uses some sort of fish paste which they sell from a big tub at the local market. Not sure what type of fish or how they make it but it smells disgusting. She sent me to buy more of it yesterday and the people at the market were laughing at the farang carrying it in a plastic bag at arms length! She also puts grounded up crab into the somtam which smells even worse. All the locals seem to love it however.

This is in Nan, not Isaan.

I fear that I could get those symptoms just from plain somtam, without the puffer fish.

I avoid it on all occasions.

My girlfriend spent most of yesterday making it for half the village it seemed. The smell was that bad I couldn't stay in the house.

This is more likely to be som Tum Plaa which i dont think is puffer fish...... it might be, but I think it is a local river fish in Isarn they leave out to rot......

Does anyone know what the fish is they use?

A puffer fish in Thai is "Plaa Pow"

This is more likely to be som Tum Plaa which i dont think is puffer fish...... it might be, but I think it is a local river fish in Isarn they leave out to rot......

Does anyone know what the fish is they use?

According to the television news yesterday (via my wife), the puffer-fish had been used to make the stinky, rotten fish knows as bplah rah. This had then been served as 'somtam bplah rah' and people got sick...

I fear that I could get those symptoms just from plain somtam, without the puffer fish.

I avoid it on all occasions.

My girlfriend spent most of yesterday making it for half the village it seemed. The smell was that bad I couldn't stay in the house.

This is more likely to be som Tum Plaa which i dont think is puffer fish...... it might be, but I think it is a local river fish in Isarn they leave out to rot......

Does anyone know what the fish is they use?

A puffer fish in Thai is "Plaa Pow"

sure had a bit of POW in it! LOL