More than 60 cases of food poisoning and two deaths are being investigated by the Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM).
A total of 61 infections have been reported with 24 cases in Kedah including 16 from Baling district, five from Sik and three from Kulim, 21 cases in Hulu Langat in Selangor and 16 cases from Hulu Perak district. Twenty one people have been hospitalized.
Stool samples of two cases of food poisoning were positive Salmonella spp.
Investigations so far have found patients had a history of eating laksa purchased at one location in Kupang, a town in Kedah in the Baling district. Laksa is a type of noodle soup. The Kedah State Health Department (JKN) has examined the premises that sold the laksa which has been temporarily closed while investigations continue.
KKM is waiting for results from the food samples that have been sent to the laboratory for analysis.
KKM advised people to seek immediate treatment if they experience symptoms of food poisoning. The agency said food should be stored at the appropriate temperature and heated to a sufficient temperature to prevent food poisoning.
There were 14,433 cases of food poisoning in the country in 2016, according to the Ministry of Health.
Salmonellosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella. Symptoms of infection usually appear 12 to 72 hours after infection, and include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and sometimes vomiting. In otherwise healthy adults, the illness usually lasts four to seven days.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
