Khaberni - The Egyptian Ministry of Health has issued guidelines before Sham El-Nessim, warning of the dangers of salted fish, and emphasizing the necessity to go to the hospital if symptoms of poisoning appear.
The Ministry of Health and Population has issued a set of medical and preventive guidelines to the citizens, coinciding with the celebrations of Sham El-Nessim, warning of the risks of consuming salted fish like «Feseekh» and «Herring» unsafely.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the ministry, explained that botulism poisoning linked to these foods is considered one of the most dangerous types of food poisoning, noting that its symptoms may appear within a period ranging between 12 and 36 hours after consuming the food, and may extend in some cases for several days.
He mentioned that the most prominent symptoms include blurry and double vision, eyelid drooping, dry throat, difficulty swallowing and speaking, along with dizziness and muscle weakness.
The ministry emphasized the importance of immediately going to the nearest government hospital when any of these symptoms appear, to obtain the necessary serum, which is available for free, stressing that the speed of medical intervention plays a crucial role in saving the life of the affected person.
It also called for contacting emergency services via the hotline 137 in cases of suspected poisoning, or going directly to the nearest medical facility.
It warned against overconsumption of salted fish, as they contain high levels of salts that may exceed 17%, posing a risk to patients with heart, pressure, and kidney issues, as well as pregnant women and children.
The ministry stressed the need to avoid consuming the head and viscera of salted fish, as they are the areas most likely to contain toxins, urging citizens to follow the health guidelines to enjoy Sham El-Nessim safely.
