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SINGAPORE: The mass food poisoning incident involving an Indian rojak stall at the Geylang Serai temporary market has claimed its second victim.
Norani Kassim, 59, who was warded in Alexandra Hospital, died shortly before 10am on Wednesday. The hospital said she was warded with food poisoning on Saturday.
Her husband, Mohd Salleh Sarip, said: ".....I really miss her. I hope that this thing won't happen to others. I hope the Ministry of Health do something with this."
The incident has also killed another woman, 57-year-old canteen assistant Aminah Samijo, and caused a 38-year-old expectant mother, Rosiah Samat, to miscarry.
So far 146 people have been affected by the food contamination, 48 of whom were hospitalised.
The Health Ministry says it appears that the transmission, caused by a cross-contamination of rojak and raw seafood ingredients harbouring the Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria, has ceased.
Laboratory investigation confirmed 12 cases tested positive for Vibrio parahaemolyticus, including the first death.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria cause watery diarrhoea and abdominal cramps, usually with nausea, vomiting, fever and headache. The symptoms typically last between one day and a week.
The Health Ministry adds that food poisoning is generally not contagious but faecal-oral transmission can occur with poor personal hygiene.
Meanwhile the Geylang Serai temporary market, which houses about 300 stalls, was closed for routine cleaning on Wednesday and Thursday. The last time spring cleaning took place there was in October last year.
The rojak stall which sold the contaminated food was rated 'C' by National Environment Agency officers, who last did a check at the Geylang Serai temporary market in December last year. 'C' is a pass grade.
Stalls which do not pass NEA's inspection have to shut down. Investigations on the rojak stall are ongoing. It is uncertain at this point what penalty the hawker faces.
A poll on channelnewsasia.com found that about 40 per cent of about 450 people felt that the rojak hawker should compensate victims and have his licence revoked.
The rojak hawker is 69-year-old Sheik Allaudin, who has been running the stall for 27 years.
Errant hawkers whose hygiene standards are not up to par face a maximum penalty of a $2,000 fine.
- CNA/yt/ir
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