IPOH, Aug 22 — Fifty-two male students of the Gopeng Matriculation College suffered food poisoning after eating a chicken dish at the boy’s college cafeteria last Saturday.
State Health director Datuk Dr Juita Ghazalie said the initial information on the incident was received about 2am on Sunday when the students suffered stomach pains, diarrhoea, vomiting, dizziness, nausea, fever and abdominal cramps.
“Checks on all the patients found that they had eaten at the boys’ hostel cafeteria.
“Several samples have been taken such as the utensils and food, to be sent to the Chemistry Department,” she said in a statement, here, today. Dr Juita said the state Health Department had ordered the cafeteria to be immediately closed under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
“The cafeteria operator has been issued a RM1,000-compound under Regulation 35 of the Food Hygiene Regulations,” she said.
Dr Juita added that the department had also briefed the college management, students and cafeteria operator on food hygiene. It is understood that all the affected students were from the June, 2016 intake.
Last Wednesday, 56 students from the Malay College Kuala Kangsar suffered food poisoning after having their meal at the college’s dining hall. Dr Juita said the investigation found that the van used to transport the food was dirty and maggot-infested while the containers, including the jugs and dispensers, were not cleaned properly. — Bernama
