Longleng, 25 June (MTNews): The Office of the Chief Medical Officer’s Office in Longleng has issued a notification concerning the recent outbreak of Acute Gastroenteritis (food poisoning) in Pongching village. The outbreak has been traced back to food contamination, and the State Public Health Laboratory’s (SPHL) report has provided crucial insights into its causes and preventive measures.
According to the SPHL report, food samples collected from affected individuals tested positive for bacterial contamination, specifically Streptococcus Aureus, E. Coli, as well as yeast and mold. The presence of Streptococcus Aureus and E. Coli in cooked food highlights unhygienic handling practices during food preparation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining cleanliness and proper hygiene while handling and cooking food.
Streptococcus Aureus is a bacterium commonly found on the skin, hair, and nose of humans. Improper hand washing and unclean utensils can result in the transfer of these bacteria onto food, posing potential health risks. Similarly, the presence of E. Coli in cooked food suggests fecal contamination, indicating inadequate sanitary conditions during food handling.
Additionally, the SPHL report emphasized the presence of yeast and mold in the food samples. These organisms have the potential to produce mycotoxins, toxin metabolites that can pose significant health hazards to humans. Ensuring the consumption of fresh and properly stored food is crucial to prevent the growth of mold and yeast.
Fortunately, the report confirmed that the tested food samples had pesticide residue levels below the maximum permissible limits mandated by the Food Safety and Standard Regulation, 2021. This finding rules out pesticide contamination as a contributing factor to the outbreak.
In response to these findings, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer’s Office in Longleng has released a public advisory urging individuals to take preventive measures to avoid future outbreaks. The advisory underscores the importance of maintaining clean hygiene practices, including thorough hand washing before and after handling animal products.
Furthermore, it recommended the proper washing of utensils used for handling animal products, avoiding the consumption of raw or partially cooked animal products, drinking filtered or boiled water, and seeking immediate medical attention if symptoms of illness arise.
District Administration Longleng reopens fish shops
The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Longleng has announced that the suspected source of contaminated fish has been cleared of responsibility for the recent outbreak of Acute Gastroenteritis in Pongching village, following a thorough investigation and analysis conducted by the State Public Health Laboratory (SPHL) and the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED).
Based on the findings of the analysis, it has been established that the fish sample does not contain any harmful contaminants that could be linked to the occurrence of acute gastroenteritis. As a result, there is no evidence to suggest that the outbreak is related to the fish shops in the area.
In light of these findings, the Deputy Commissioner, Longleng, has ordered the immediate reopening of all fish shops and establishments in Longleng town. This decision has been made after careful consideration of the investigation results, and it is deemed safe for normal business operations to resume without further delay.
All shop owners and residents have been advised to continue following standard hygiene practices, such as proper hand washing, food safety measures, and maintaining a clean environment and to remain vigilant and report any unusual health concerns to the appropriate authorities for timely action.
It may be recalled that 43 persons from Pongching village, Longleng were admitted to District Hospital, Longleng on 15 June for medical treatment on suspicion of food poisoning. As per the report of State Public Health Laboratory, Nagaland, Kohima and CMO, Longleng, it was stated that food contamination was due to unhygienic food handling and presence of E. Coli and Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria.
The fish shop at Longleng town which was sealed earlier was re-opened by the District Administration, along with the Chamber of Commerce and Longleng Police on 26 June 2023.