ALOR SETAR, 9 Oct 2018:
A total of 42 new cases of food poisoning suspected to be due to contaminated ‘laksa’ purchased at a premises in Kupang, Baling have been recorded.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement said this took the tally to 61 cases with two deaths so far.
“The new cases were recorded in Kedah (14 cases), Perak (seven) and Selangor (21), where all were reported to have suffered similar symptoms. The findings showed that symptomatic patients had consumed the laksa sold at the premises in Kupang.”
He said 21 patients has been warded, while 38 others received outpatient treatment.
Dr Noor Hisham said the Kedah State Health Department had conducted a detailed examination of the premises that sold the laksa, and found it had no relation to reports of contaminated Iceberg Lettuce gone viral on social media recently.
He said the Health Ministry was still awaiting the results of food samples sent to the lab, adding that stool samples of patients tested positive for ‘Salmonella spp’.
Earlier story:
The Ministry of Health has confirmed 19 cases of food poisoning with two deaths following the eating of ‘laksa’ (spicy noodle soup) bought at a stall in Kupang, Baling.
Kedah Health director Datuk Dr Norhizan Ismail said today nine cases – with two deaths – were reported in Perak and 10 cases in Kedah.
The ministry was notified by the Gerik Hospital on Saturday Oct 6 of two cases of food poisoning, with one death. Subsequent investigation found seven more cases from one family whose members suffered from fever, diarrhoea and vomiting, he said in a statement.
“They were reported to have eaten the laksa at 9.30pm on Oct 4. It was bought by the father of the dead person at a stall in Kupang, Baling, at 5.30pm on the same day.”
Dr Norhizan said that on Oct 7, two more cases of food poisoning were admitted to the Gerik Hospital, also after eating the laksa bought from the same stall on Thursday Oct 4.
One of these patients was referred to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh but the person died at 2.31pm on Sunday Oct 7, he added.
He said 10 cases of food poisoning related to the laksa bought from the same stall were reported by the Baling District Health office and the victims were treated at the Baling Hospital.
“Investigations are ongoing by the District Health Office of the Kedah Health Department and the Perak Health Department to identify the food poisoning cases resulting from consumption of the same food.”
He said the ministry advises people with symptoms of food poisoning to seek immediate medical treatment at the nearest health facility.
The Kedah Health Department conducted an examination and ordered the temporary closure of the stall to assist in the investigation to determine the cause of the deaths, he said.
He also said several clinical and food samples had been taken for laboratory tests.
“The public does not have to worry because the incident is under control. The people are advised to always observe food hygiene by selecting clean food outlets and to see, smell and taste any food before eating.”
– Bernama