Ciguatera Fish Poisoning is a foodborne illness that is caused by eating reef fish contaminated with toxins from Gambierdiscus toxicus algae. These toxins do not usually spread from person to person.

Ciguatera toxins cannot be destroyed by cooking, freezing, or drying the fish. It can be difficult to tell if fish is contaminated because the toxins that cause ciguatera do not change the appearance, taste, or smell of the fish.

Ciguatera symptoms usually develop 3-6 hours after eating contaminated fish but may start up to 30 hours later. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Some people may experience tingling, tooth pain, itching, metallic taste in the mouth, blurred vision, increased sensitivity to hot and cold, or temperature reversal (cold items feel hot; hot items feel cold).

Most people recover from ciguatera fish poisoning within a few days; however, there is no specific treatment. Those recovering may consider avoiding fish, nuts, alcohol, and caffeine for at least 6 months because these might cause symptoms to return.