Poisoned conch - just one case last week

Health Minister Dr Duane Sands.

As of Tuesday, August 28, 2018

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Health Dr Duane Sands yesterday pointed to a dramatic decrease in the number of conch poisoning cases - with just one reported last week.

Dr Sands said there had been no established link between the outbreak that swelled to some 54 clinical conch poisoning cases earlier this month and work being carried out at Malcolm Park near Potter’s Cay Dock.

“Go ahead and enjoy scorch conch or conch salad, but just make sure you wash it in water,” Dr Sands said.

“We do not have any conclusive nexus between what is happening at Malcolm Park and what is happening with the bloom of vibrio. While we pay attention to all the things that are happening we don’t believe there is a connection between excavation works in the harbour and what’s happening with the vibrio.”

Agriculture and Marine Resources Minister Michael Pintard had previously suggested several factors at the Potter’s Cay Dock could be creating an environment for the bacteria which leads to conch poisoning to thrive.

He pointed to issues with a nearby water treatment facility and ongoing dredging in the area.

However, Water and Sewerage Corporation Executive Chairman Adrian Gibson told The Tribune at the time that a number of tests were conducted with results that free the corporation of any culpability.

As for the outbreak of gastrointestinal illness at Sandals Royal Bahamian all-inclusive resort, Dr Sands said the total number of guests staying at the property had dropped to just over 200 people.

The total number of cases had fallen to just one or two, he said, adding that no patients presented with the full syndrome.

joeblow 5 years, 8 months ago

Reported cases and actual cases are not the same thing!

hrysippus 5 years, 8 months ago

Bahamas men love to eat conch, . . . . .. … They think it helps them when they bonk, . . . . … .. And now these men can not eat no more, . . . . . … It is fine if cooked but bad if raw, . . . . . . … . If we cant eat the scorch but can eat conch chowder, . .. . . .. The noise of cooking pots just got much louder, . . . . . . … And the gals will be happy come Friday night, . . . . . … As their main squeeze can treat them right.

John 5 years, 8 months ago

Well there are several factors that can lead to the reduction in the incidents of poisoning. 1. Persons are consuming less conch. 2. Persons are eating less from the affected areas. 3the dredging on the Eastern end of New Providence is complete. 4 While the works continue at the Malcolm Park sewerage plant the spillover of raw sewage into the seawater has stopped , at least for the time being. 5. Persons operating in the mostly affected area (Potters Cay) are following the advice of government officials and using more stringent food handling measures. 6 Many of the fishing boats that were docked at Potters Cay and dumping raw sewage into the water on a daily basis have gone out to sea with the start of the lobster season August 1.

The Tribune