Taiwan
A food poisoning outbreak in Taitung County, Taiwan has claimed another life, raising the total number of fatalities to four. The latest victim, a 59-year-old woman named Yang, passed away after being in a coma since September 18th. She had been on life support at a local hospital, but her family decided to discontinue treatment due to her lack of improvement.
The incident began when an 83-year-old woman died on September 17th after eating homemade millet dumplings. Later that day, several mourners consumed leftover food from her kitchen, including the dumplings. This led to multiple cases of severe food poisoning, with symptoms like vomiting and convulsions.
Investigators found high levels of terbufos, a dangerous pesticide ingredient, in the dumplings. The poisoning resulted in three more deaths and hospitalized about a dozen people. Currently, only Yang’s 53-year-old sister remains under medical care.
Local prosecutors are continuing their investigation into the incident, though they haven’t released any new information.
Israel
According to a recent statement from the Israeli Health Ministry, E. coli were found in a sample of apples during testing, just before the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Apples and honey are traditionally eaten during the holiday to represent a sweet and prosperous new year. E. coli is a bacterium that can cause severe, and sometimes fatal, illness.
The tests were prompted by several reported cases of bacterial infections. The Health Ministry has advised the public to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with water before eating them.
Nigeria
A community in Akure, in Nigeria’s Ondo state has been left devastated after five family members died from suspected food poisoning. A grandmother and her four grandchildren aged between three and nine, passed away after consuming pap, a traditional Nigerian breakfast of fermented cereal pudding made from corn, millet, or sorghum, at their home.
The grandmother’s son, and father of the children, Ademola Adeola described rushing his children to a local hospital when their condition worsened. However, he expressed frustration with the medical response, claiming the hospital lacked proper facilities to treat the victims effectively. He also raised concerns about the doctors’ approach, stating they seemed uncertain about the appropriate treatment and even suggested giving the children palm oil to drink.
According to Adeola, his mother was the first to succumb. The four children passed away the next day after experiencing severe vomiting and stomach pain.
Adeola has called on the Ondo State Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
In response to the accusations, a state health official refuted Adeola’s claims of negligence by the hospital, emphasizing that the medical team did everything in their power to save the children.
“I was at the hospital with them personally. Four consultants and other doctors worked tirelessly to save the children, but sadly, they couldn’t be saved. The claim that the hospital lacked adequate facilities is false,” the official said.
Additionally, the Ondo State Police Command confirmed that although the incident was not formally reported, officers had visited the family’s home to investigate the circumstances of the deaths.
India
CHENNAI – A dead lizard may have caused a case of food poisoning in a family of five. The family was eating a takeout biryani mixed rice dish when the dead reptile was found.
Soon after, the family of three adults and two children experienced food poisoning symptoms of vomiting. The two children are reported to have fainted.
The family was treated at a local hospital.
Local police filed a case and will investigate.
THANE – Food poisoning is suspected in the illnesses of 38 students at a local school. After eating a lunch of khichadi, a dish of rice and lentils, and sprouts, the students began feeling unwell and were admitted to a local hospital.
A government official said he had previously received complaints of worm-contaminated food at the school. Prior to the current outbreak, he said, students had complained that the food had a bad odor.
All of the students are reported to be in stable condition and would be discharged soon. Initial findings suggest food poisoning is to blame for the illness but the hospital was awaiting test results before confirming.
Parents have demanded answers from the school and were planning on meeting with school administration and would be demanding an investigation into this and other incidents.
Police said they will open a case and investigate after parents file an official complaint.
CHENNAI – A recent incident involving migrant workers in Chennai has led to controversy and confusion over the cause of one worker’s death. Initially reported as a case of starvation, medical experts have now clarified that severe food poisoning was the actual cause.
Medical officials now say that Samar Khan, a worker from West Bengal, died from complications related to acute gastroenteritis. The illness was caused by contaminated fish curry consumed by a group of 12-13 workers who had recently arrived from West Bengal seeking employment.
The group had been staying near Chennai Central Railway Station for a few days when they fell ill after eating the tainted food they had prepared. Several workers were hospitalized with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and severe dehydration. Khan’s condition was particularly critical, involving kidney injury, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, and ultimately multi-organ failure.
Medical tests revealed that the illness was caused by a Staphylococcus bacterial strain, which can produce toxins that enter the bloodstream and cause serious complications, especially in individuals who are already weakened or dehydrated.
The incident has sparked political controversy, with initial reports of starvation leading to criticism by West Bengal’s governor who accused Chennai officials of neglecting the welfare of migrant workers.
However, hospital authorities have debunked the starvation claims, emphasizing that food poisoning was the primary cause of the workers’ illnesses and Khan’s death. The West Bengal government has provided financial aid to the affected workers, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.
RATLAM – A 5-year-old boy died after reportedly consuming a cucumber for dinner. Two other children from the same family are currently in critical condition, receiving intensive care treatment.
According to local doctors, the children are suffering from severe food poisoning. Initial reports suggest that four family members, including three children, ate Balam cucumbers (also known as African kheera) in the evening. Shortly after, they experienced food poisoning symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and severe stomach pain.
The family initially tried to treat the symptoms with medication, but this apparently worsened their condition. As a result, they took the children to a nearby hospital. Unfortunately, the young boy passed away during transit.
Doctors suspect the cause might be salmonella poisoning, an infection that can lead to significant dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. While salmonella infections often resolve on their own within a few days, experts caution that they can be extremely dangerous or even fatal in some cases, particularly for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
Food Poisoning News has widely reported on a large salmonella outbreak in the United States this past summer tied to contaminated cucumbers that sickened nearly 600 people.
BIJNOR – Contaminated buckwheat flour is suspected in a large outbreak of foodborne illness that sickened at least 250 people. Local villagers had consumed a meal of fritters made from the buckwheat flour as part of a religious celebration.
Soon after, people began experiencing symptoms of diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, stomach pain, and vomiting and were admitted to a local health center.
Food safety officials are now investigating and have identified three local shops where the buckwheat was purchased for the celebration.
JAMNAGAR – A group of pilgrims from India’s Assam state faced a tragic incident when a 65-year-old member of the group lost his life. Seven other pilgrims required hospitalization due to suspected food poisoning.
The group of 45 had embarked on their pilgrimage last week with many members of the group experiencing symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting for several days prior to the incident.
After a group dinner, the condition of eight of the pilgrims significantly worsened and they were transferred to a local hospital in Jamnagar early the next morning. The 65-year-old didn’t survive, while the others are currently receiving medical care.
Among the hospitalized, one pilgrim’s condition was described as very serious, while some others developed kidney complications. Despite this, the medical team expects the patients’ conditions to improve with ongoing treatment.
Commenting on this article, one national food poisoning lawyer said, “Many of these tragic stories might have been avoided. It’s a reminder of the importance of maintaining proper food safety and hygiene practices, especially during group travels, religious celebrations, and in schools where large numbers of people may be affected by foodborne illnesses.”
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