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One dead, over 148 hospitalised:
Food poisoning in Trinco
Rafik JALALDEEN
One died and over 148 were hospitalised, including schoolchildren
after consuming bakery made food items in Trincomalee yesterday morning.
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Ministry
despatches medical team
Chaminda
Perera
The Health Ministry
yesterday despatched a comprehensive medical team including
the Epidemiologists to Trincomalee after 148 persons were
admitted to the Trincomalee General Hospital due to food
poisoning.
According to Deputy Director
General Public Health Services Dr. Palitha Mahipala, the
Ministry has ordered the Provincial and District health
authorities that food stalls and restaurants in the
Trincomalee city limits should be brought under regular
inspection of the PHIs.
The food samples collected
by the PHIs after this incident yesterday would be taken to
Medical Research Institute to ascertain whether there is any
poisonous component. |
A bakery located in Kings Road, Trincomalee has been sealed following
a report of the death of an old man and the hospitalizing of 148 others
including schoolchildren after consuming buns and other bakery products.
Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunaskera said Selvaraja Dhuraisingham
(62) died possibly from food poisoning after admission to the
Trincomalee hospital.
According to Trincomalee hospital sources, four persons were admitted
to the hospital on Sunday night after consuming bread from a particular
bakery.
“The four were suffering from stomach aches and diarrhoea. One of
them died and the other three are recovering,” sources added.
”We are unable to identify the actual cause of the sickness since the
medical examinations are not completed yet. But they were all victims of
food poisoning”, Trincomalee hospital Director Dr. Anushia Rajamohan
told the Daily News.
She said blood samples and specimen of food had been dispatched to
the Colombo Medical Research Institute for further analysis.
”District Medical Officer and a team from the Food and Drug
Investigation Unit have commenced an extensive investigation to identify
the cause of food poisoning”, Dr. Rajmohan said.
Some people who had consumed food items from the same bakery,
panicked as the news of food poisoning spread and reported to the
hospital to ensure their health status.
Most of the victims were schoolchildren from schools in Trincomalee
town, Uppuveli and 3rd mile post areas. Trincomalee police are
investigating.
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