Koi Pla, a beloved Thai dish made from raw fish mixed with spices and lime, is enjoyed by millions, particularly in the Isaan province. However, recent warnings from Thai doctors have highlighted the risks associated with this seemingly harmless delicacy. Leading the charge is Narong Khuntikeo, a liver surgeon who tragically lost both parents to liver cancer, which is believed to be linked to Koi Pla consumption.
The real threat, however, does not stem from the fish itself but from a tiny parasitic flatworm known as the liver fluke, which is commonly found in freshwater fish throughout the Mekong region, including Isaan’s rivers.
The liver fluke, scientifically identified as Opisthorchis viverrini, has a complex life cycle involving several hosts, starting with snails and ultimately leading to humans. When fish ingest infected snails, the larvae hatch in their digestive tracts. If humans consume undercooked or raw fish containing these larvae, they become the final hosts for the liver fluke.
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