Perak orders caterer at Lenggong boarding school to shut after almost 160 students, staff fall sick

IPOH, September 11 — A food caterer serving a boarding school in Lenggong, Perak has been ordered to close after 159 students and staff developed symptoms of suspected food poisoning.

Perak Health, Human Resources, Indian Affairs and National Integration Committee chairman Datuk A. Sivanesan said the Hulu Perak District Health Office received a report of the incident from Lenggong Health Clinic on September 10.

He said those affected, aged between 13 and 52, began developing symptoms from 11.30pm on September 9, with the latest case reported at 1.40pm the following day.

“Of the 159 cases, all experienced diarrhoea and abdominal pain, while 125 had headaches, 89 had nausea, 31 had vomiting and 15 had fever,” he said in a statement today.

All were treated by a medical team at the school, with 10 receiving further treatment at Lenggong Health Clinic, while none required hospitalisation and all remained stable.

Sivanesan said 34 clinical samples, 14 environmental samples and one food sample were collected and sent to the Ipoh Public Health Laboratory for analysis.

He said the suspected food was supplied for a programme at the school on September 9 by an external caterer engaged by the programme organiser.

The Hulu Perak District Health Office inspected the caterer’s premises at 2pm on September 10 and recorded a score of 78.16 per cent.

“Following the inspection, the food premises were ordered to close under Section 18(1)(d) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988,” he said.

The operator was also ordered to clean the premises, carry out corrective measures and conduct regular pest control, while the school dining hall continued operating as usual.

Sivanesan also urged food handlers to comply with the Food Act 1983 and Food Hygiene Regulations 2009 to prevent further food poisoning incidents.