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KUALA TERENGGANU: The death of five-year-old Mohammad Iqbal Rafie Mohd Ilme on Monday was caused by salmonella poisoning and 68 people had seek treatment due to food poisoning as of today.
It was believed that they had fallen ill after consuming chicken contaminated with the salmonella bacteria in the fried rice and fried noodle bought at the Dataran Shahbandar and Padang Hiliran night markets.
Initial investigation by the Health Department revealed that all those who had seek treatment at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah hospital (HSNZ) here for food poisoning alleged that they had eaten food bought at the two night markets on Friday and Saturday.
Terengganu Health director Datuk Dr Anwa Sulaiman said 18 of the 68 patients were children between 10 months to 12 years old.
He said the victims suffered diarrhea and vomiting after eating fried rice bought at he the two night markets.
"The first case was referred to HSNZ at 8.45pm on Saturday and eight people were allowed to go home after receiving treatment at the hospital," he said.
He said as of yesterday, 42 people including 18 children were still warded at HSNZ and they were in stable condition.
"Lab tests on the patients stool revealed that nine out of ten patients were infected with salmonella,' he said.
Commenting on Mohammad Iqbal's death, Dr Anwa said he received treatment at the Bukit Payong Health clinic for diarrhea and vomiting after eating fried chicken that his father Mohammad Ilme Adam, 31, bought at the Padang Hiliran night market.
He said Mohammad Iqbal was then referred to HSNZ for further treatment but died on the way to the hospital at 1pm.
"The autopsy revealed that Mohammad Iqbal had suffered serious food poisoning and the salmonella bacteria had gotten into his blood and heart," he said.
He said the Kuala Terengganu Health Department had taken action against three night market traders who were believed to have sold the salmonella-tainted foods.
"We have ordered them to shut down their business for a week and clean up their kitchen,"
"We had taken 31 food samples and kitchen utensils from the three traders to be tested," he said.
Dr Anwa said all clinics in the state have been told to be on alert and give immediate treatment to patients with food-poisoning symptoms.
"If needed, the medical officer at the clinics could refer patients suffering from food poisoning to HSNZ," he said.
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