Identifying the blue-ringed octopus suspected of causing death in Thua Thien Hue

(Baonghean.vn) - This type of octopus looks very beautiful with blue spots on its body. Therefore, many tourists are not cautious.

Shape and toxicity of the blue-ringed octopus

Blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena) usually lives in shallow waters, less than 50m deep, often found in the Indian Ocean, Northern Australia, the Western Pacific Ocean, including the East Sea of ​​our country. They often live in coral reefs, rocky crevices, and can hide in clam shells, bottles or butter tubes thrown into the sea. Usually, after rough seas or due to changes in the living environment, we can see blue-ringed squid in other places.

The poison in octopus is maculotoxin and tetrodotoxin which can survive high temperatures when cooked or after death. Tetrodotoxin is mainly found in the salivary glands of the octopus, but also in other soft parts of the octopus's body. Tetrodotoxin is a highly toxic neurotoxin. The toxin of a 25g octopus can kill 10 people weighing 75kg.

The color of an octopus can vary according to environmental conditions, water depth, and sunlight, from green to reddish brown; the colors appear more vivid when they are agitated or preparing to attack.

Their size can be small or large, 6-20cm long, with 8 tentacles. Blue-ringed octopuses are both carnivores and prey for other animals. Therefore, their poison (tetrodotoxin) is both a self-defense and an attack on prey.

An image of a blue-ringed octopus - very similar to the octopus suspected of biting and killing Ms. Van Thi Ty - a suspected victim in Vinh Ha commune, Phu Vang district, Thua Thien Hue province, who was bitten to death by an octopus on July 7. The Thua Thien Hue provincial Department of Health warns about a type of blue-ringed octopus that can be deadly. Photo: Provided by Phu Vang district health center/source: Dantri

Signs of blue-ringed octopus poisoning

Poisoning can occur through food and skin (octopus bites). The incubation period through food can be from 30 minutes to 3 hours after eating. Through skin, symptoms of poisoning can appear after 1-5 minutes and death can occur within 10-20 minutes.

The blue-ringed octopus usually hides and avoids attacks, but when forced to defend itself, it releases a venom containing maculotoxin and tetrodotoxin that paralyzes its opponents. People are usually poisoned by accidentally stepping on the animal and being attacked by it.

The bite is very small and difficult to detect, but the venom often penetrates very quickly into the blood, causing neuromuscular dysfunction and cell dysfunction, leading to death.

As in pufferfish, maculotoxin and tetrodotoxin in octopus are very toxic and very stable, can exist in high concentrations even when the octopus is dead and even when processed at high temperatures.

Eating blue-ringed octopus can easily lead to severe poisoning and can lead to death. When poisoned, the victim has symptoms similar to puffer fish poisoning: initially feeling uncomfortable, red and droopy face, pupils constricted and then dilated, possibly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, limp limbs, sometimes shivering, numbness in fingers and toes.

In severe poisoning, paralysis of the whole body occurs, the body becomes limp, limbs lose the ability to move, the skin turns purple, temperature and blood pressure drop, difficulty breathing, and finally respiratory muscle paralysis, respiratory arrest, cardiovascular collapse and death.

Photo: Provided by Phu Vang District Medical Center/source: Khoahoc.tv

Prevention and treatment of blue-ringed octopus poisoning

There is currently no serum to treat the venom of this octopus. Therefore, treatment measures are only supportive, such as artificial ventilation, gastric lavage, and activated charcoal to remove the remaining toxins in the intestines. If maintained for 1-2 days, the patient may survive. However, the risk of death is high, especially in children.

Many types of blue-ringed octopus in the sea (photo: provided by Phu Vang District Medical Center) /source: Khoahoc.tv

The recommended way to prevent this octopus is to avoid contact with octopuses; do not use octopus for food; if bitten by an octopus, quickly take it to the nearest medical facility for timely emergency treatment.

Pear Flower

(Synthetic)