Tag Archives: philippines

Milk tea kills two in Philippines

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In a follow-up to the report of two deaths linked to contaminated chilled milk tea, the Philippines Department of Health said in a statement Monday that in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and toxicologists from the UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH), they obtained and studied the footage from the food establishment to aid in assessing the clinical manifestations and course of illness of the victims.

milk.tea_-284x300Samples of the milk tea ingested were also submitted for examination. Preliminary results were negative for suspected toxic substances. However, we have expanded the tests to include biological samples such as blood, tissues, and gastric contents from the victims as collected during the autopsy.

The situation appears to be an isolated event, pointing to a possible case of poisoning. Let me emphasize that this is isolated. In fact, this is the third time the couple bought milk tea in the same food establishment.

The couple they speak of is Suzanne Dagohoy and Arnold Aydalla. On Thursday, the were sickened after tasting milk tea served at the Ergo Cha shop in Bustillos, Sampaloc. Within moments of drinking the milk tea, Dagohoy experienced retching, dizziness, loss of consciousness, twitching of extremities, and pallor. She died 5 hours later.

Mr. Aydalla reportedly experienced fast breathing, chest tightness, weakness of extremities, and carpopedal spasm seven minutes after he sipped the tea. He is currently at the Philippine General Hospital.

In addition to the couple, shop owner William Abrigo also died hours after drinking the milk tea.

Health officials say no untoward incident happened during the previous intake. “We appeal to the public not to generalize the situation as many small and medium scale enterprises are dependent on the sale of milk tea and similar beverages” they noted in the statement.

One person called the report “pointless” while another said the statement raised nothing but confusion. One gentleman called out the DOH saying, “Just do your job, so that it will not happen again.”

Diarrhea downs 200 at export processing firm in Philippines

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Diarrhea downed 200 employees of an export processing company in Danao City on Thursday, with investigators looking at contaminated food or water as among the possible causes.

kenny.diarrheaOf the 200 affected employees of Mitsumi, two were confined at the Danao City Hospital where personnel from the Provincial Health Office examined them, GMA Cebu’s Alan Domingo reported Friday.

 The other patients were brought to other hospitals in Cebu City, the report added.

Unborn babies can get toxoplasmosis, listeriosis

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ABS-CBN News in the Philippines reports Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite found in raw or undercooked meat, can latch on to pregnant moms and their unborn babies if ingested, potentially causing food poisoning, miscarriage or other complications to the unborn baby.

pregnant.fishAccording to microbiologist Dr. Windell Rivera, “Usually infected newborns would have problems sa mata, sa utak, mga damage talaga at birth (Usually, infected newborns would have eye or brain damages at birth).”

Toxoplasmosis is the disease caused by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite. Naturally thriving in a cat’s stomach, it can contaminate soil, water, or plant material once released via the animal’s feces. Animals that ingest the parasite can be infected. Humans may contract the parasite by consuming contaminated meat products.

According to the World Health Organization, toxoplasmosis is one of the five most commonly “neglected parasitic infections” as the parasite shows no symptoms in people with strong immunity. However, immunodeficient individuals may experience body aches, swollen lymph nodes, head ache, fever, or fatigue. Babies of pregnant mothers are usually the most potent victims as congenital toxoplasmosis can result to fetal death.

Experts, however, said that mothers who contracted the parasite before pregnancy could be safer as their bodies may have already developed immunity.

Treatment of the toxoplasmosis, in general, is also possible through medication, according to experts; however, completely removing all the parasites from the body may not be possible.

Beyond the Toxoplasma gondii, experts add that mother must also look out for the Listeria bacteria.

amy_pregnantRivera warned, “Ang listeria delikado. Twenty times at risk ang mga buntis. Pwedeng malaglag yung bata kung ma-food poison yung nanay. O kaya sakitin yung bata paglabas (Listeria is 20 times more harmful to pregnant mothers. Mothers may experience miscarriage if they contract food poisoning. If not, the baby may turn out to be sickly).”

The Listeria bacteria may be contracted from raw milk, vegetable salad, and processed meat such as hotdogs or luncheon meat. In general, people infected by the bacteria experience mild fever and are treated with antibiotics. However, experts say, people experiencing worse symptoms ought to receive medical attention.

To avoid further complications by parasites and bacteria, experts warn, prevention is key.

 

Salmonella spurs peanut butter recall in Philippines

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The Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the recall of several batches of Arrowhead Mills Peanut Butter products over possible contamination from Salmonella.

salm.arrowhead.mills.peanut.butter.14Based on FDA Advisory 2014-079, specific batches of Arrowhead Mills Creamy Organic Peanut Butter (16oz.) and Arrowhead Mills Crunchy Organic Peanut Butter (16oz.) are being recalled by its distributors One Stop Distribution Inc. and Healthy Options Corporation.

“A voluntary recall has been initiated on the specific batches of Arrowhead Mills products due to potential Salmonella contamination,” said the FDA.

Included in the recall order are Arrowhead Mills Creamy Organic Peanut Butter (16oz.) with Product Code AM47052 and Unit Bar Code 074333470328 with Expiry Dates February 4, 2015; December 31, 2014; and May 14, 2015.

Also being recalled are Arrowhead Mills Crunchy Organic Peanut Butter (16oz.) with Product Code AM47032 and Unit Bar Code 074333470526 with Expiry Dates December 31, 2014; and May 14, 2015.

“The recall involves only the specified batch under the mentioned product codes and no other Arrowhead Mills peanut butter variants and sizes are affected,” said the FDA.

Consumers that are in possession of the concerned products are being advised by the FDA to contact One Stop Distribution – Merchandising Department at 527-5555 local 4757. (Sunnex)

1 dead 60 sick; Salmonella linked to egg pudding in milk tea in Philippines

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The food poisoning incident that victimized almost 60 people in Iloilo City was caused by salmonella bacteria.

Dr. Glenn Alonsabe, chief epidemiologist of Department of Health (DoH-6), confirmed that samples taken from four victims have tested positive for milk.teasalmonella bacteria.

The initial results were verified by DoH’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Metro Manila.

It was last September 26 when people were admitted to different hospitals in Iloilo City. They all exhibited symptoms of food poisoning from drinking Dakasi milk tea.

Alonsabe said that the salmonella may have been from the added ingredient of egg pudding, which was the common ingredient of the specialty milk tea that was ordered by the victims, who now have been discharged and have recovered.

The incident also allegedly triggered the death of a 27-year-old man.

100 athletes stricken by diarrhea in Philippines

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Some 100 athletes, coaches and officials of the Naga City delegation were stricken by diarrhea last week, just days before the start of the Palarong Bicol at the Catanduanes Athletic Complex this afternoon.

The Catanduanes Tribune reports that as of Feb. 22, the Department of Health Center for Health Development Bicol (DOH CHD Bicol) has yet to determine with certainty what caused the ailment pending the results of the epidemiological candelarioinvestigation jointly done by the team of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) of the province, the DOH-CHD Bicol and its Provincial Health Team (PHT) stationed in Catanduanes.

The team has already sent for laboratory tests rectal swabs taken from 20 of those athletes as well as two water samples taken from filtered water supplied by a water refilling station in Virac.

The 500-person delegation arrived at its billeting school – Virac Center Elementary School – beginning Feb. 18. The following day, two delegates began manifesting watery stools three times or more in 24 hours, with the number of cases reaching a hundred the next day. Sixty-seven of those were athletes from the elementary and secondary level while 33 were adults.

An initial report submitted by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Lubelia Sanchez to Governor Joseph Cua identified two probable causes of the diarrhea. The report said that athletes may have drank contamined water from the ice mixed in the filtered water, improperly handled water or poorly boiled water from the dispenser. On the other hand, it said, food eaten by the delegation may have been contaminated due to improper food handling and preparation.

A survey of the delegation caterer’s area revealed the absence of drainage, unprotected food, utensils placed in an uncovered basin on the floor, and food servers not wearing head net, apron and were without health certificates. Ice bought from a nearby ice plant was mixed with the filtered water.

’We’re awaiting rectal swab results’ 239 sickened in Philippines outbreaks

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Health types are investigating separate outbreaks of food poisoning and diarrhea in Limay, Bataan and Balanga City last week.

The Manila Times cited Dr. Rosanna Buccahan, acting Provincial Health Officer, as saying they are waiting for the results of rectal swab to be known in two weeks and stool culture in one week to determine the cause or causes that affected the victims.

“We are waiting for results of the random rectal swab and stool culture from the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Metro Manila after the PHO in coordination with the Regional Epidemiology Research Center and the Department of Health conducted the tests,” she said.

Buccahan said that 117 inmates of the Bataan District Jail in Balanga City suffered from diarrhea Tuesday last week while 25 people were victimized by food poisoning after eating egg rolls (lumpia) during a funeral in Limay last Thursday. Ninety-seven, mostly children, were downed by food poisoning after eating dirty ice cream in Barangay Cabog-Cabog in Balanga last Wednesday.

Plot to kill former Philippines’ president with salmonella?

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The camp of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo suspects that her diarrhea could be part of the alleged plot to "put her to sleep."

A radio report said that according to lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, they are now investigating the possibility that contaminated food was deliberately given to Mrs. Arroyo at the St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) in Taguig City as part of the alleged "Oplan: Put The Little Girl To Sleep".

Topacio cited the statement of Dr. Juliet Gopez-Cervantes, the main attending physician of Mrs. Arroyo, that the former president was suffering from diarrhea likely caused by salmonella, which can be passed on to a patient through contaminated food.

Meanwhile, the lawyer said that according to Mrs. Arroyo’s doctors, it was also possible that the former president already had the salmonella bacteria inside her intestines and that it could have just been aggravated by certain factors.

The report said that Topacio reminded reporters during an ambush interview this afternoon that part of the kill plot was to serve poisoned food to Mrs. Arroyo at the hospital.

Topacio reiterated that their source on the kill plot is very reliable. He repeated earlier claims by Mrs. Arroyo’s spokesperson, Elena Bautista-Horn, that the source is currently connected in government.