SEREMBAN: The state Agriculture Department has begun to weed out the highly toxic Santa Maria Feverfew proliferating in Kampung Baru Saga, Rantau, near here.
Its director Mustafa Umar said some 10 officers from the department were tasked to manually pull out the noxious weed to prevent it from becoming a public hazard.
The department sprayed weedkiller on Nov 11 and 20 on the grass before it started on its latest operations.
The Santa Maria Feverfew, scientifically known as Parthenium hysterophorus, is known to cause allergic reactions in humans and those who come into contact with the plant often experience dermatitis and repository illnesses.
The toxic weed is also known to be harmful to cattle and domestic animals.
“We began a two-hour operation to uproot the weed which was growing along the main road of the kampung,” he said.
Last Monday, Harian Metro reported that the weed, which had been thriving in the village, caused severe rashes on the hands and feet of resident S. Kaliammah, 63, after she came into contact with it.
Mustafa said the weeds were removed in plastic bags before being burnt at a field in the village.
Although the plants were pulled out, Mustafa said the department had provided weedkiller to some 570 residents to spray around the area, including their own compounds.
The state Health Department and the state Veterinary Department would brief the villagers on methods to handle the plant to prevent any allergic reactions.
Village head S. Ravi, 47, said he was grateful to the authorities for their swift action in removing the weeds.
“We have distributed flyers about the dangers and methods to handle the weed to the locals,” he said recently. By Khairul Najib Asarulah