KOZHIKODE: Health department and food safety department authorities have stepped up surveillance and enforcement activities as part of preventive measures against Shigella infection which was found to have caused food poisoning among those who had eaten shawarma from an eatery at Cheruvathur in Kerala’s Kasaragod district.
District medical officer Dr AV Ramdas said that the department was conducting super chlorination of wells and other water sources and also engaged in house visits to see if anyone was having symptoms of shigellosis.
“As the presence of shigella has been found in the samples taken from some patients admitted at the hospital, we have also asked the hospitals to closely monitor those approaching the hospitals with symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting,” he said.
Devananda (16) hailing from Karivaloor in Kannur died on Sunday due to food poisoning after she reportedly ate a shawarma from the Ideal Food Point eatery at Cheruvathur two days ago.
Also as many as 58 persons who had consumed food from the eatery had fallen ill due to suspected food poisoning. The presence of Shigella was found from the samples of three patients who are currently under treatment on Tuesday.
The DMO also added that enhanced surveillance would be conducted among those engaged in preparing food at hotels and eateries to see if they have a valid health card.
Meanwhile the tests conducted at the regional analytical laboratory in Kozhikode on the food samples collected from the Ideal Food Point eatery at Cheruvathur including samples of shawarma, mayonnaise and picked vegetables have revealed presence of E.coli bacteria. However the report will be officially handed over to the food safety department after the results of the tests for Shigella and Salmonella are available.
The food safety department authorities meanwhile stepped up inspections at hotels, bakeries and other food stalls at Cheruvathur on Wednesday during which three firms, including an ice-cream distributor was shut down for functioning without a license for the last one and a half years. The two other shops which have been closed down included a bakery and a tea stall.
Also the health department along with the food safety department has started collecting water samples from water sources for testing for shigella bacteria.
Trikaripur food safety officer Sujayan K said that 30 water samples have been taken for testing for Shigella presence from the area on Wednesday in a joint exercise with the health department.
Shigella infection is an intestinal infection caused by Shigella bacteria. The main symptoms include diarrhea, often with traces of blood and mucus in the stool, stomach pain and fever. It is spread through contaminated food and water and can also be spread by direct contact with feces from an infected person.
Health department authorities have asked people to seek medical help if they have diarrhea and also to maintain proper personal, food, and water hygiene measures including drinking only boiled water and washing of hands after using toilets.
District medical officer Dr AV Ramdas said that the department was conducting super chlorination of wells and other water sources and also engaged in house visits to see if anyone was having symptoms of shigellosis.
“As the presence of shigella has been found in the samples taken from some patients admitted at the hospital, we have also asked the hospitals to closely monitor those approaching the hospitals with symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting,” he said.
Devananda (16) hailing from Karivaloor in Kannur died on Sunday due to food poisoning after she reportedly ate a shawarma from the Ideal Food Point eatery at Cheruvathur two days ago.
Also as many as 58 persons who had consumed food from the eatery had fallen ill due to suspected food poisoning. The presence of Shigella was found from the samples of three patients who are currently under treatment on Tuesday.
The DMO also added that enhanced surveillance would be conducted among those engaged in preparing food at hotels and eateries to see if they have a valid health card.
Meanwhile the tests conducted at the regional analytical laboratory in Kozhikode on the food samples collected from the Ideal Food Point eatery at Cheruvathur including samples of shawarma, mayonnaise and picked vegetables have revealed presence of E.coli bacteria. However the report will be officially handed over to the food safety department after the results of the tests for Shigella and Salmonella are available.
The food safety department authorities meanwhile stepped up inspections at hotels, bakeries and other food stalls at Cheruvathur on Wednesday during which three firms, including an ice-cream distributor was shut down for functioning without a license for the last one and a half years. The two other shops which have been closed down included a bakery and a tea stall.
Also the health department along with the food safety department has started collecting water samples from water sources for testing for shigella bacteria.
Trikaripur food safety officer Sujayan K said that 30 water samples have been taken for testing for Shigella presence from the area on Wednesday in a joint exercise with the health department.
Shigella infection is an intestinal infection caused by Shigella bacteria. The main symptoms include diarrhea, often with traces of blood and mucus in the stool, stomach pain and fever. It is spread through contaminated food and water and can also be spread by direct contact with feces from an infected person.
Health department authorities have asked people to seek medical help if they have diarrhea and also to maintain proper personal, food, and water hygiene measures including drinking only boiled water and washing of hands after using toilets.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
