KLUANG: An 84-year-old man, who was in a coma after eating puffer fish with his wife two weeks ago, died today.
The elderly, Eng Kuai Sin@ Ng Chuan Sing died after being treated in the ICU of Enche' Besar Hajjah Kalsom Hospital (HEBHK) since March 25.
On March 25, his wife, Lim Siew Guan, 83, died after eating puffer fish while Eng was admitted to the ICU.
The couple bought the puffer fish from a supplier in Batu Pahat who gets the supplies from fishermen in Endau.
Johor Health and Unity Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said at 3pm, some three hours after eating the fish, the 83-year-old woman started showing symptoms of shortness of breath and shivering.
Her husband also experienced the same symptoms about one hour later.
Ling said it was understood that this was the first time that the couple, who lived in Jalan Sin Tiam Chamek, Kluang, ate the puffer fish-based dishes by getting the supply from a seller via Facebook.
The poison found in puffer fish, known as Tetrodotoxin, is a poison that can attack the nervous system and can be fatal.
Ling said Kluang District Health Office has opened an investigation paper under the Food Act 1983, following the death of the couple after eating puffer fish.
"The Johor State Health Department has already investigated the matter by identifying those involved in the poisonous fish transaction."
He said the department had also conducted several discussion sessions with the Fisheries Department and several local universities that have expertise in the field of fisheries and toxins to get a comprehensive solution.
Ling also reminded the people of Johor to always be careful when choosing food, especially if it has known risks.
"Information related to this puffer fish was also shared on the Facebook page of the Food Safety and Quality Division of the Health Ministry on March 29, 31 and April 1."
Meanwhile, the family members of the elderly couple are urging the authorities to take court action against the sellers and suppliers of the poisonous fish.
The couple's daughter, Ng Ai Lee, 51, said the family hopes the government, including the Health Ministry, will continue to monitor and ensure that such tragedies do not happen again.