Cambodia: Raw Beef Suspected in Illness of 15
Last Saturday, approximately 15 people in a Cambodian village were struck by food poisoning symptoms of diarrhea, headaches, and vomiting after eating “funeral beef.”
A funeral for a local villager included a traditional meal of raw beef and rice at the wake. Later in the day, attendees began suffering from symptoms of food poisoning and ten of the affected sought medical treatment at local clinics.
A provincial health department team responded and is currently investigating the incident. Food samples were sent to a lab in the country’s capital for testing but the exact cause of the illnesses is currently unknown.
In January, a food poisoning outbreak in Cambodia caused by contaminated noodles sold at a local stall resulted in 64 hospitalizations and 1 death.
Kazakhstan: 67 Students Sickened by Suspected Food Poisoning
A suspected food poisoning outbreak has affected 67 students in Kazakhstan’s Mangistau region. The incident began last Friday when 21 students from a local school sought medical assistance due to stomach pain and fever. By the afternoon of the following day, an additional 58 children had reported similar symptoms.
Of the 67 affected students, 13 were admitted to hospital for treatment, while the remaining 54 are receiving care at home. All are reported to be in stable condition.
Regional health authorities were notified of the incident but the cause of the suspected food poisoning has not yet been determined. Local health officials are investigating the school’s food service and other potential sources of contamination to prevent further spread and identify the cause of the illness.
Malaysia: Cafeteria Operator’s Contract Cancelled Over Poor Food Safety Practices
Officials have announced plans to cancel the contract of the operator of Taiping Mara Junior Science College’s school cafeteria due to poor food hygiene practices. The decision was made following a surprise visit at the facility, which was prompted by repeated complaints from parents about food poisoning incidents affecting their children.
The most recent incident occurred on August 30, when 62 students fell ill after consuming food from the dining hall. This led to local authorities ordering the closure of the facility. Although it was briefly reopened after passing a cleanliness inspection, the Ministry of Health has now mandated its closure again from the present date until September 20.
During the surprise visit, several contract violations were observed. The operator had only seven workers present instead of the required 19, and the food provided did not match the agreed-upon menu. Additionally, the operator was found to have subcontracted food-handling tasks, which was not permitted under the terms of their agreement.
The decision to terminate the contract is intended to send a message to all operators about the importance of maintaining high standards of food hygiene and adhering to contract terms. Officials emphasized that there would be no compromise when it comes to the health and well-being of the students.
Legal action is expected to be taken against the former cafeteria operator.
Hong Kong: Restaurant Temporarily Closed after 11 Hospitalizations
A suspected food poisoning incident in Hong Kong has led to the temporary closure of a restaurant in the city. On Tuesday, authorities received reports of 11 people falling ill. Twelve ambulances were sent and the affected were brought to a local hospital for treatment. The 11 were part of two large groups of 61 total tourists from mainland China.
Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) revealed that the incident involved eight men and three women, aged 55 to 68, all of whom experienced symptoms of food poisoning including abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and fever after eating lunch and dinner at two restaurants on Monday.
Health officials inspected the dinner venue, collected samples for testing, and ordered the establishment to suspend operations and undertake thorough cleaning. The CHP suggested that cross-contamination and inadequate reheating of pre-prepared food could be potential causes of the outbreak.
Hong Kong’s tourism commission said that officials would investigate and assist the affected tourists.
The restaurant in question was linked to two other food poisoning cases in July, with one incident involving the detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria in a stool sample from an affected patron.
In total, 69 mainland tourist groups, comprising 2,100 people, visited the two restaurants on Monday, but no other travelers reported similar symptoms. As a precautionary measure, travel agents and restaurant operators catering to mainland Chinese tour groups have been advised to maintain hygiene practices and remind visitors about personal and food safety.
Commenting on these articles, one national food poisoning lawyer said, “It doesn’t matter if food is served at home or abroad. Stringent food safety practices must always be followed, especially when the audience is large groups of people.”
