A marine biologist closely monitoring Sorsogon Bay in Bicol yesterday confirmed that red tide microorganisms previously found only in green mussels (tahong) have found a new host in pen shells (baloko), which, for the first time, claimed the life of a child and downed four other members of his family in Sorsogon last week. Ronnel Dioneda, a researcher of the Bicol University who has been studying Sorsogon Bay for over a decade now, said the deadly microorganisms have multiplied so thickly that they have already contaminated even marine products in the muddy seabed like the pen shells.

Dematera, C. (2010, August 23). Red tide organisms find new host shells. The Philippine Star , p. A-26.