Food poisoning : Samples collected for confirmation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 16 2022: Health Director Dr K Rajo has expressed suspicion that the alleged case of food poisoning which afflicted three individuals of a family from Thongju Pechu Lampak and claimed the life of one might have been caused by the consumption of poisonous fermented fish.

Speaking to media persons at his office at Lamphelpat today, he said that an investigation has been launched in this connection and samples of 11 items used to prepare the meal have been collected.

The luffa was purchased on June 9 from Kongba Keithel and on June 13, five members of the family (out of six), consumed a meal consisting of luffa fry with fermented fish and rosella leaves curry, he shared.

On questioning the vendor from whom the luffa was bought, it was reported that the seller had not received any other complaints of food poisoning, the Dr Rajo said.

Interestingly, a neighbour of the ill fated family had also consumed the same luffa but didn't show any complication, he said.

It is unlikely that the luffa may have caused the food poisoning, he said and added that the fermented fish used in preparing the meal, however, was mouldy and emitted a distinct stench unlike that of fermented fish.

Closely observing the symptoms of the afflicted family members such as vomiting and bad bowel movement and the condition of the fermented fish, Dr K Rajo expressed that the sickness might have been caused by the presence of a bacteria known as clostridium botulinum.

The Food Safety Wing has begun conducting tests on the samples of food items collected such as luffa, fermented fish, cooking oil, spices etc.

The samples will be sent to laboratories outside the State in case these tests fail to find the exact cause, he said.

It may be noted that Longjam Khamba, 35, succumbed to the sickness at RIMS yesterday while his mother.

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