A woman in Surin was admitted to intensive care after collapsing shortly after eating two bites of spicy horseshoe crab egg salad purchased from a mobile seafood market. The incident left her unconscious with no pulse and requiring emergency ventilation. Provincial health officials have since ordered a temporary suspension of sales of the dish across the province after three cases of tongue numbness were recorded.
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The woman’s husband, Mr Kimhan, 51, said he and his wife bought the ready-prepared horseshoe crab, sold with seasoning for around 100 baht, from a travelling seafood market set up outside Big C Surin on the evening of 20 February. She experienced tingling around her lips immediately after eating one to two bites but initially did not suspect anything, having eaten the dish before without issue. Around 40 minutes later, she phoned her husband saying she felt unwell and needed to go to hospital.
Her symptoms matched information she found online about horseshoe crab poisoning, including numbness of the tongue, weakness and a floating sensation. By the time she arrived at hospital, her condition had deteriorated, with vomiting followed by loss of consciousness and later no detectable pulse in the emergency room. Doctors inserted a breathing tube and admitted her to ICU at Surin Hospital, where she still remains after 5 days. Her condition has since improved and the ventilator has been removed.
Pictures courtesy of Komchadluek
Mr Kimhan said they had not known how to distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous horseshoe crabs, noting that the tail, commonly used to identify the species, had been removed to fit the crab into a round plastic container. He confirmed his wife had eaten nothing else that day. The hospital’s pharmaceutical department has collected samples of the crab eggs for testing, and the family is awaiting confirmation and a medical certificate before considering legal action against the vendor.
On 23 February 2026, Surin Provincial Public Health Office, led by Dr Yutthana Wannaphothiklang, confirmed three patients had reported tongue and mouth numbness after consuming the same menu item from a mobile market in Mueang Surin district (one case) and Prasat district (two cases). The patients are being treated at Surin Hospital and Prasat Hospital.
Officials inspected the market and requested immediate suspension of horseshoe crab egg sales, receiving cooperation from vendors. Komchadluek reported that the source of the ingredients has been traced to a shrimp farm company in a central province, with safety checks ongoing.
Key Takeaways
• A woman was admitted to ICU after eating two bites of horseshoe crab egg salad in Surin on 20 February 2026.
• Three cases of tongue numbness linked to the same dish have been reported in the province.
• Provincial health authorities have suspended sales and are investigating the ingredient source.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Komchadluek 26 Feb 2026
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