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11 victims warded in food poisoning case stable, says Dr Dzulkefly

PUNCAK ALAM: Eleven victims are still warded for salmonella bacterial infection related to the food poisoning case at a school in Gombak.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the victims are in stable condition and not showing serious symptoms.

He said 105 people suffered symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, and nausea.

"The Health Ministry conducted tests and that's where we found out it's salmonella poisoning... and this salmonella poisoning is unique in this particular case because it resulted in acute poisoning earlier than usual.

"Usually it takes six to eight hours (to show symptoms), but in this case, the person who died did so within two hours, meaning it could have been a massive toxicity of salmonella poisoning," he said after the 'Pek Kasih Mama' launch ceremony.

Last week, the police confirmed receiving two reports of deaths involving a 17-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl, suspected to be from food poisoning related to a religious programme at a school in Gombak.

The source of the food poisoning is understood to be the fried mee hoon and eggs prepared for the event.

On June 12, the Health Ministry detected salmonella in the stool samples of the victims.

The results of other samples sent to the National Public Health Laboratory in Sungai Buloh are still pending.

No obvious practices contributing to contamination were noted so far, as the food handlers had been vaccinated for typhoid.

Police have taken statements from eight individuals, including the catering operator in its investigation into the case.

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