Photo taken from bernama.com
By Selangor Journal Staff
KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry today confirms that noodles from the laksa eatery in Baling, Kedah, where two people died of food poisoning, were found to contain bacteria.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said laboratory tests had found the bacteria known as "salmonella enterica serovar weltevreden" in the clinical samples of the patients and the laksa sample.
“The bacteria were found in the patients’ clinical samples and the mee laksa samples involved in the incident,” Noor Hisham said.
A total of 83 cases, including two deaths, were reported after customers consumed laksa bought at a food stall in Kupang, Kedah on October 4.
“The bacteria were detected in the laksa noodle which was bought last October 4 at a food stall. The laksa noodle was produced at a processing premises which is also owned by the food stall owner.
“The risk factors contributing to food poisoning are likely to arise from the process of preparing and storing unclean laksa noodles and the temperature during the process of preparing the laksa," he said.
On October 6, the Gerik Hospital notified the ministry of two cases of food poisoning with one death.
Subsequent investigations found seven more cases from one family whose members suffered from fever, diarrhoea and vomiting, said Kedah Health director Datuk Dr Norhizan Ismail.
The ministry advised those with symptoms of food poisoning to seek immediate medical treatment at the nearest health facility.
"Salmonella enterica serovar weltevreden" is bacteria that can cause fever, vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhoea.
According to Dr Noor Hisham, the Baling district health office has informed the owner of the food stall of the test results.
