A spate of fish food poisoning has struck the island.

The ciguatera poisoning illness is affecting a number of residents after eating fish which contained toxins caused by marine algae.

Bigger fish consume the smaller ones and, although none of the species is harmed, the effects from the more concentrated toxins can be devastating in some human cases at the end of the food chain.

The Ministry of Health’s epidemiology and surveillance figures for 2026, updated online, reports five cases of ciguatera poisoning this year. The site listed zero cases for last year.

The unit said the foodborne illness was considered “a rare occurrence” in Bermuda prior to 2016, with “large amberjacks, large yellow jacks (larger than 20lb), barracuda and Cubera snapper” implicated in past cases.

A government spokeswoman said there had been one case reported in January, and four in August.

Numerous victims of ciguatera have complained of a severe itching and a debilitating rash hitting them after an initial bout of food poisoning from eating certain types of fish.

Diane Skinner, from Devonshire, who has been battling the illness for a month, said: “I am afraid of eating fish now.

“I caught this on August 19 and I am still suffering now. I ate the same fish, snapper, as my partner but although he caught this ciguatera, the same as me, it was not as bad. Maybe he has a stronger constitution.

“It's horrible.

“It starts with food poisoning, with sickness and diarrhoea, then it dissipates the next day and affects my nerves, but I have the worst symptoms of horrific itching.

“It is so bad I want to itch my skin off.

“One day can be OK and the next I am itching like crazy.

“This can be my back then my legs, or even under my feet. Then I get a little bit of tingling in my fingers and toes.

“It feels like a rash but it's not showing. Eventually it will leave my body, but I wanted to get the word out to people. I know there are other people going through it and there is a website which I have seen.

“There were 62 (responses) the last time I looked and then some private ones. The total amount suffering just now is about nine that I can make out.

“There was one person saying they had suffered the effects for two years and one gentleman had had it for five years and lost 40lb.”

She added: “I have reported it to the Department of Health, but not heard anything yet.

“I have been advised not to take alcohol or coffee for three to six months which will make it worse. I was also informed not to eat fish for between three and six months.

“I have lost five pounds since it started and as the only thing I am taking is Zyrtec, which is for colds and flu and also using aloe vera cool gel packs. They help a little with the itchy skin.”

Mark Orchard, a real estate owner, told how his bout of ciguatera spurred him to renew his diet with more vegetables, fresh fruit and a more selective choice of fish.

Although he was stricken more than five years ago, Mr Orchard vividly recalls the attack: “My particular symptoms included being in discomfort with tingling like an electrical sensation all throughout my arms and upper torso and chest.

“I had to rest on the couch for a while and when I saw my doctor and told him the symptoms, he knew straight away it was ciguatera.

“It was basically a matter of taking painkillers. It’s quite debilitating and even putting on a shirt was quite a task as it was irritating my skin and made it very tingling. The itching was in the skin or the skin's surface but no visible rash at all.

“But I don't think it is something people should freak out about. I have been enjoying fish since, but I tend to stick with tuna and salmon and don't really eat local fish now.”

Meanwhile, a 42-year-old accountant from Paget who asked to remain anonymous, insisted she will never eat fish again after contracting the illness twice.

She said: “The most recent time was last year. On both occasions that I caught this it was rockfish I had eaten.

“The first time, three years ago, I first feared it was multiple sclerosis with the tingling effects. I went for an MRI scan and it was clear, but it was terrifying beforehand.

“When I saw my own doctor she caught it at the same time so straight away she could tell me it was ciguatera.

“My symptoms were the burning sensation of the skin, intense itching and I had the cold hot temperature reversal when I put my hand under the tap and felt the water cold, but it was actually hot.

“I had muscle ache in my legs and that all came after the initial kind of food poisoning within hours of feeling unwell and I was sick. It lasted four or five months then dissipated.

“I could actually still work, but the longer it went on the more my mental health suffered after waking up day after day and it was still there.

“I got my confidence up when it eventually cleared and I had rockfish again, and again caught this. The first time it was fish from the side for the road, and the second at a restaurant so it can be caught anywhere.”

A man who is suffering now, Irving Minors, admitted: “I cooked the fish myself. It was snapper. I have had this since August and it struck quickly, pretty much when I woke up next day. But I will still eat fish.”

Finally, Delton Outerbridge, 60, from Paget, recalled fearing for his life after contracting ciguatera 25 years ago when it was largely unknown.

He dropped from 240lb to 163lb in a matter of weeks and suffered hallucinations.

He said: “People thought I had Aids at the time. I’d not wish this on my worst enemy. I still have symptoms now because I got the wrong treatment at the time in America which left me crawling on my hands and knees in agony. It was heartbreaking.”