The death of a fisherman in Koh Kong province this week prompted the Health Ministry to ban the consumption of three kinds of blowfish.
Health Minister Mam Bun Heng appealed to all citizens to stop eating these three kinds of poisonous fish, which cause serious illness and can lead to death.
There are ten types of blowfish in Cambodia, three of which are poisonous. The poisonous ones are Tetraodon cochinchinensis, Monotrete leiurus and Tetraodon fluviatilis.
The minister added there was no way to cook the blowfish that would remove the toxins.
Symptoms from eating blowfish appear 20 minutes to two hours after consumption. Victims feel an itch on their lips and mouth, then headaches, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhoea, and more.
Dr Bun Heng said if anyone who had eaten blowfish experienced the symptoms, they should get to the nearest health centre quickly.
