PETALING JAYA: Sixteen people have come down with food poisoning after consuming delicacies bought from Ramadan bazaars nationwide.
Health Ministry disease control division director Dr Chong Chee Kheong said the cases were recorded as of July 22.
“Kerang rebus (boiled cockles), bubur lambuk and popiah basah are suspected to have caused the outbreaks,” he said, adding that there were no deaths.
Dr Chong said the 16 cases represented 1.1% of the total 274 food poisoning episodes reported this year.
A food poisoning outbreak occurs when there are two or more cases resulting from exposure to the same food within the same period.
Last year, 36 cases of food poisoning linked to Ramadan bazaars were reported during the fasting month.
Dr Chong said the ministry provided guidelines to district health offices and local authorities on the management of Ramadan bazaars to prevent food contamination.
“The ministry also inspects Ramadan bazaars nationwide before, during and after the fasting month,” he said.
“These checks include the medical examination of food handlers, which covers anti-typhoid vaccinations, food handling practices and cleanliness.”
Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan said strict monitoring by health officers had controlled the number of food poisoning cases.
He added that dust and the environment were the compounding factors for contamination even if the food was clean.
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