Philippines: Food
poisoning downs 23 persons in Argao
By Jhunnex Napallacan
First Posted 12:43:00 07/30/2008
Source of Article: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20080730-151596/Food-poisoning-downs-23-persons-in-Argao
CEBU CITY, Philippines - Food poisoning
blamed on lechon (roasted pig) that was allegedly bad
downed at least 23 persons in Barangay (village) Balisong, Argao town, around 66.9
kilometers south of Cebu City.
Fifteen of the victims were brought to
the
The victims reportedly ate the lechon on Sunday evening.
Dr. Domingo Efren
of the
Efren said the patients complained of
stomachache, dizziness, vomiting and loose bowel movement (LBM).
Efren said the common food eaten by the
patients was pork lechon bought from Danny's and
Virgie's Lechon House.
Dr. Rino Rhine
Mamac, Argao Municipal
health officer, ordered a temporary closure of the lechon
outlet pending the investigation on Tuesday morning.
Danny Engbino,
the owner of the lechon outlet, resented the
allegations that his lechon caused the food
poisoning.
He said it could be a handiwork of a
"guy who is jealous" of his business.
This was the second incident of food
poisoning involving the same lechon house.
A few months ago, some customers were
also hospitalized when they fell ill after eating the lechon.
The lechon house was also ordered closed temporarily
but was allowed to operate again.
Tuesday’s closure order, which was noted
by Argao Mayor Edcel Galeos and the municipal administrator, said the closure of
the lechon house would depend on the result of the
epidemiologic investigation.
“In view of the above, the undersigned
recommends temporarily closure of your establishment pending on the completion
on the epidemiologic investigation and until further notice,” the order said.
The Provincial Health Office sent a
medical team on Tuesday to investigate the incident.
“A team was sent there this morning
(yesterday) to conduct a routine epidemiological investigation,” Dr. Cristina Giango, Cebu Provincial Health Office (PHO) director told
Cebu Daily News.
She said that the patients would be
interviewed and undergo laboratory tests.
Giango added that the probe is part of the PHO's routine probe whenever there are unusual cases
reported to the office, a rise in dengue or diarrhea cases from towns and
municipalities in
As of Tuesday afternoon, Giango said the PHO has no plan of action yet because the
result of the team's investigation is not yet available.
Sanitary inspector Felomino
said the samples of lechon and stool from the
patients were brought by the health personnel to
But Felomino
clarified that the lechon was the common food taken
by the patients.
They had no evidence yet to show that it
was the cause of the incident, he added.
During the inspection of the PHO team, Felomino said they found out that the lechon
house was clean and had observed the standards in the sanitary code.
It also had proper documents to operate.
Felomino said that if indeed the lechon caused the food poisoning then it could be that the lechon sold was spoiled food.
Based on sanitary standard, he said lechon must be disposed four to five hours after it is
displayed.
He said the health inspection team
established that the whole lechon blamed for the food
poisoning incident was displayed about 3 p.m. on Sunday.
He said the patients bought the lechon between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., which was still okay
based on the standard for disposing the lechon.
Lechon house owner Engbino
said a “jealous person” could have made the allegations.
He said this person bought one and a
half kilo of lechon on Sunday evening, and gave these
to the people, who were hospitalized.
He said that if his lechon
was not good for human consumption, it was impossible because the other
customers would have fallen ill, too. /With
a report from Editorial Assistant Bernadette A. Parco
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