Puttur: The brown spotted reef cod (Epinephelus chlorostigma), popularly called hamour, is found in 11 kinds in the Gulf countries. It is popular in this part of the country as well.
Locally it is called ‘muru’ or ‘amuru’. Delicacies are prepared from its head also. Two families from Kootelu near Uppinangady purchased this fish from the market and prepared ‘head’ curry on Sunday.
Soon after consuming the dishes, ten members from two houses developed symptoms of vomitting and diarrhoea, itching of the skin, breathing problem and speech difficulties and the like.
They were taken to a hospital and were treated. Four others from another house also suffered similar problems and were hospitalized.
There is a suspicion around that the cut fish in the market may have been treated with some chemical as a preservative to prevent it from rotting.