Hundreds taken ill after consuming fish heads in Ullal

MANGALURU: More than hundreds people including workers of a fish exporting company were taken ill after eating fish heads that were supplied from the export firm in Ullal, here on Saturday.
The affected people are being treated at hospitals in Deralakatte and Mangaluru. The condition of the four members of a family is critical. Public Relation Officer of KS Hegde Hospital in Deralakatte said that currently around 15-20 persons, majority of them are women, being treated at hospital and 50 persons have been treated as out-patients.“Due to non-availability of beds, some of the patients are sent to other private hospitals,” he said. Hospitals have intimated jurisdictional police to file complaint against the export firm.
According to sources, factory workers and localites in Ullal had fallen sick after eating meal on Friday night. Most of them had had pulling sensation in their hands and legs as well as diarrhoea. They had consumed fish heads, which is considered as waste in a fish export factory.
However, the fish export firm denied about selling fish heads to people in and around Ullal. N Saleem, managing director of Baraka Overseas Trader, maintained that they are export-oriented firm and don’t sell anything locally. “We transport fish waste that includes heads, thorns and other parts to fishmeal factories after processing of fish for export. The person who transports this waste might have sold this to local people and they have fallen sick,” he clarified and added that multiple varieties of fishes are processed in the unit.
When contacted, DHO Ramakrishna Rao said that he is not aware about it and will look into the issue.