An outbreak of ciguatera fish poisoning in Victoria

An outbreak of ciguatera fish poisoning in outer Melbourne in September 1997 was traced to a 16.2 kg Maori Wrasse fish imported into Victoria from Trunk Reef in Queensland. The outbreak involved 46 individuals attending a banquet at an Asian restaurant at which four different dishes prepared from the flesh and viscera of the fish were offered. In all 30 individuals consumed at least one of these dishes and all reported one or more symptoms, in the main gastrointestinal and/or in 18 cases neurological. Seventeen cases were seen in four different hospitals and nine were treated with parenteral mannitol therapy. Nine of 18 cases were still symptomatic 10 weeks after the episode. Education of Asian restaurateurs and the wider community about the risks of ciguatera fish poisoning was undertaken.