Experts warn against unhealthy eating practices

BY BHARATHA Malawaraarachchi

THE death of a 10-year-old boy from poisoning after consuming sausages has galvanised health specialists to focus on the need for educating the public on food preparation methods.

"Before you eat sausages they need to be fried or properly cooked," health authorities stressed referring to the untimely death of Ravindu Bandara from Nittambuwa.

The child had been suffering from diarrhoea and even blood had been found in his stools. Medical specialists said the Shigella bacteria was found in them.

Consultant Paediatrician attached to the Kalubowila Hospital Dr. Jeewani Sarathchandra said that according to information, the boy had eaten half a sausage in a raw condition.

His father had purchased loose sausages from a shop in Nittambuwa and the elder boy (who died) had eaten some of them without frying while the other had done so after frying.

"Both had been admitted to the Wathupitiwala Hospital as they had suffered from diarrhoea and then to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital.

Finally the eldest boy was admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital as his condition was critical," added Dr. Sarathchandra. The boy was treated at the Intensive Care Unit for nine days as his condition grew worse.

"We did everything. We found the shigella bacteria in his stool samples," said Dr. Sarathchandra adding that this particular bacteria had never been so deadly .

The other child who is nearly three years old has been discharged from hospital.

Dr. Sarathchandra stressed that the public should pay attention to this issue.

"They should properly fry sausages before eating them and at the same time, they must be concerned when they buy sausages. They should pay attention to the refrigeration conditions under which sausages are stored and also to the expiry date," she added.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that whole a stock of sausages had been allegedly removed from the particular grocery.

When the Medical officer of Health (MOH) in the area visited the grocery, he had not found any sausages even to conduct a sample test as the whole stock was gone.