We all know that the coral reefs all over the world are being threatened by both direct human actions and also by global warming. While the loss of the reefs will be both a tragic loss of beauty and have a huge negative impact on the marine ecosystem, what recent studies have revealed is that even in their current state of degradation, they pose a threat to human life.
Dead coral can become covered by algae which encourage the growth of microorganisms which secrete a deadly toxin that fish ingest when they feed in the contaminated waters. When humans eat the fish that have absorbed these toxins, they fall prey to a serious disease call Ciguatera. While some areas like French Polynesia are more affected than others, worldwide over 100,000 people come down with this sickness every year.
Between 2001 and 2005 35 cases that resembled Ciguatera poisoning, but in a more severe form, hit a small tribe living on of the small New Caledonian islands, prompting scientists to investigate why the symptoms had become worse. The investigations revealed that the tribe, which existed mainly by fishing, had destroyed part of the nearby coral reef to allow the launching for their fishing boats. A study of the damages area showed that the coral had died and was covered by bacteria which gave off the toxins. Since the tribe fed on the fish they caught, they were easy prey for this disease.
What has now become even more worrying is that while initially it was found that it was only the plant eating fish that absorbed the poison, it has now spread to carnivorous fish that eat the infected plant eating fish. Shellfish such as giant clams have also been found to be infected.
The study of the bacteria, coupled with the severity of the symptoms has led researchers to believe that this is a new disease; Ciguatera like, but much more deadly. With the rate at which coral reefs are being destroyed, the danger of this disease spreading to other part of the world is serious. It has already changed to way of life of the inhabitants of a French Polynesian island of Raivavae, where the fear of poisoning from eating fish has prompted the inhabitants to start eating other forms of animal food. This sudden change in their dietary habits has caused a large percentage of the population to fall victim to cardiovascular problem caused by a rapid change in their diets which their bodies cannot handle.
