Vibrio cholerae, a bacterium that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness, has been detected in fish, fishery resources, and environmental water samples from aquaculture farms around Manila Bay, according to a study published in the December issue of the Philippine Journal of Science.
The journal received the paper in January last year. Sample collection was carried out between March and September from 2021 to 2023, covering a total of 348 aquaculture commodity and environmental water samples.
The findings raise concerns for a region that plays a major role in seafood production and where fish remains a dietary mainstay.
Although the prevalence of pathogenic strains was low, researchers said the presence of the pathogen remains a serious concern. Cholera is typically transmitted through contaminated food or water, and infection risk increases when seafood is eaten raw or undercooked.
The study underscores the need to inform consumers about proper cooking practices to reduce infection risk. At the same time, it points to the importance of improving aquaculture management to limit contamination at the farm level.
Monitoring both the environment and farmed commodities is critical to detecting potential outbreaks early and understanding how the bacterium behaves in water compared with seafood.
The authors said the findings build on earlier research and highlight the need for region-specific strategies, including stronger food safety regulations and improved seafood production management.
The research was funded by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources as part of the project titled “Assessment of Heavy Metals, Pathogenic Bacteria, and Other Pollution Indicators in Manila Bay Aquaculture Farms,” under the Manila Bay Rehabilitation and Restoration program in compliance with the Supreme Court Mandamus.
The study highlights that protecting public health and sustaining aquaculture around Manila Bay will require continued monitoring, updated regulations and stronger coordination among regulators, producers and local governments.
