No signs of E coli
Chamikara Weerasinghe
Medical Research Institute yesterday said they tested samples of
water, blood, food, vegetables and fruits for strains of E coli, and the
samples showed no infection of the bacteria.
No person has tested positive for E coli so far in the country, the
bacteriologists and virologists of the Medical Research Institute (MRI)
yesterday told the Daily News.
The institutes' bacteriologist Dr P Somarathna said although there is
no threat from the bacteria, that has killed over 44 persons and
affected thousands of people in Germany and France, the Sri Lankans are
advised to practice basic hygiene at all times to protect against
food-borne diseases.
It is advisable to eat properly prepared cooked food, said the
doctor. Consumption of raw vegetables and fruits has reportedly caused
the spread of E coli in Europe.
Meanwhile Health Ministry sources said the country needs not panic
because it does not import fruits and vegetable from Europe,
Health Ministry has instructed Sri Lanka Customs to be extra vigilant
about imported food items.
According to Colombo Municipal Council Medical Officers E coli is
found in Sri Lanka , but it is not the brand of E coli that has caused
the disease outbreak in Europe.
"It is fairly new and different to the one we find in local eating
houses in the CMC area," they said.
We have no records of the European brand of E coli found in Sri
Lanka, they added. |