Puffer fish harvested in the Titusville, Florida area may contain a natural toxin that can cause illness or death, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned Monday in a consumer advisory.

Three New Jersey residents have become ill from eating puffer fish, also known as blowfish or sea squab, harvested near Titusville, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. In two situations, patients ate puffer fish caught by a recreational fisher, but the third patient reported buying the puffer fish from a local New Jersey retail fish market.

Further investigations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have uncovered reports of similar illnesses in Florida and Virginia.

"It is imperative that consumers not eat puffer fish from the Titusville, Florida region," said Dr. Lester Crawford, FDA deputy commissioner. "The FDA continues to work closely with the CDC and the state authorities to protect the public health, but in the meantime anyone who may have eaten puffer fish should be alert to these possible neurological symptoms and seek medical help if it is needed."

The marine toxin responsible for the problem is a byproduct of algae found in seawater.

The symptoms of the toxin include tingling and burning of the mouth and tongue, numbness, drowsiness and incoherent speech. Symptoms can develop within 30 minutes to two hours after eating the fish, depending on the amount of toxin consumed.

In severe cases, respiratory paralysis and death may occur. The toxin can not be destroyed by cooking or freezing the fish.

Consumers who have symptoms like those described above and suspect that they have consumed puffer fish harvested from the Titusville area should contact their physician or local poison control center. Consumers with questions may call the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Center's Outreach and Information Center at 1-888-SAFEFOOD.