A food caterer’s premises was ordered closed after 159 students and staff at a Lenggong residential school fell ill from suspected food poisoning.
TAIPING: A food caterer has been ordered to close its premises immediately after a food poisoning incident involving 159 students and staff of a fully residential school in Lenggong on Sept 9.
State Human Resources, Health, Indian Community Affairs and National Integration Committee chairman Datuk A. Sivanesan said the closure order was issued by the Hulu Perak District Health Office under Section 18(1)(d) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
“Preliminary field investigations found 159 symptomatic cases among people aged between 13 and 52, with the earliest onset recorded at 11.30 pm on Sept 9 and the latest at 1.40 pm on Sept 10.
“The premises was ordered to close for cleaning and pest control measures following an inspection on Sept 10 that recorded a cleanliness rating of 78.16 per cent,” he told a press conference after visiting the victims at Taiping Hospital here today.
Sivanesan said a medical team from the Lenggong Health Clinic had visited the school to conduct examinations and provide initial treatment, while 10 individuals were subsequently referred to the clinic for further treatment.
“All victims are in stable condition, with no hospital admissions reported. A total of 34 clinical samples, 14 environmental samples and one food sample were collected yesterday and sent to the Ipoh Public Health Laboratory for analysis,” he said.
