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SINGAPORE : The Geylang Serai Temporary Market re-opened on Friday, after a two-day cleaning blitz.
This comes after it became the centre of Singapore's worst mass food poisoning outbreak to date, where two people have died so far and over 150 struck ill, after they ate from a rojak stall there. The incident is also believed to have caused a woman to miscarry.
In its latest update, the Health Ministry said one person has been discharged from hospital, leaving five others still warded for food poisoning.
Laboratory results of three food handlers - including a food handler from the adjacent mee siam stall - are still pending.
Meanwhile, some customers have returned to the Geylang Serai Temporary Market, and stallholders said business remained slow, dropping by between 20 and 50 per cent in some cases.
While some patrons were happy to tuck into the food there, others stayed away.
Stallholders are hoping things will turn around soon.
One stallholder said: "We are neighbours. So far we also ate rojak, no problem. I don't know what happened."
Another said: "This morning (business was) very slow. Looks like all the customers know about (the incident), (and are) worried..."
A third said: "I am hoping (things will return) to normal (within) 2-3 days. Because it is a holiday, there should be a lot of people here. But you see empty tables."
Meanwhile, former Lions skipper and regular patron Aide Iskandar said he was baffled by the incident but not put off - especially with a cleaner centre now.
The former captain of the national football team said: "I was shocked to hear (about it), but (it is) good that we now know what is the cause. I will definitely come here as regularly, because I do love the food here and the fact that marketing here is also good. But (it is) unfortunate that this incident happened."
Earlier, MP for the area, Dr Ong Seh Hong, toured the market with grassroots leaders, and said its overall reputation should not be affected by lapses in individual stalls.
Still, it is a reminder to stallholders about the importance of proper food handling and hygiene.
Meanwhile, the cleanliness spotlight also turned to other temporary markets, like the one at Albert Centre.
It saw an initial dip in business, called for an emergency meeting, and decided to increased its frequency of cleaning operations - from thrice daily to hourly.
And on Monday, the entire centre will be shut down for a thorough cleaning.
The management said the move is part of its scheduled three-monthly full clean-up - and not related to the latest food poisoning case. - CNA/ms
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