By Leilani S. Junio
MANILA, July 13 (PNA) — The Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday it is closely coordinating with the hospitals in the Caraga region in monitoring the conditions of the reported durian candy poisoning victims in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur last Friday.
At the same time, the DOH said that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now conducting laboratory analysis on the samples of the durian candies.
“Samples of the durian candies were taken to the FDA for analysis,” Health Secretary Janette L. Garin said in a statement read by Dr. Lyndon Lee-Suy, DOH official spokesperson, during a press briefing at DOH central office in Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila.
Dr. Lee-Suy said that DOH experts from the Epidemiology Bureau as well as toxicologists have been sent to the Caraga region to assist in the conduct of on-the-spot assessment on the cause of the candy poisoning.
He added that aside from mobilizing hospitals as well as rural health units (RHUs) in the region, the DOH central field office has also sent teams to advise people on the risks of taking expired candies and other food products.
“We give advice on what are the things to consider in consuming foods like these,” the DOH spokesperson stressed.
He added that the teams would also look into the possibility of what other foods were taken by the almost 2,000 poisoning victims in the provinces of Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Sur.
Food poisoning symptoms include abdominal pain, dizziness, and vomiting.
In the same press briefing, DOH Undersecretary Nemesio T. Gako said that based on the initial assessments, it was found that majority of the victims were 10-14 years old.
“At least 64 percent of them were female,” he added.
Of the 1,925 who were allegedly poisoned by the durian candies, at least 66 are still under observation status in different hospitals.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ma. Lourdes Santiago, FDA deputy director general, said that full details of their findings will probably be out by Wednesday.
“With regards to the laboratory analysis, it is still ongoing. Hopefully we can provide the results by Wednesday afternoon,” she said.
Santiago said they are first limiting the analysis into the possibility of microbial contamination.
“We are first looking into the aspects or presence of microorganism like staphylococcus aureus” she added.
She also said that they are also looking into the possibility of salmonella or e-coli bacteria contamination.
The possibility that the candies consumed were already expired will also form part of the investigation as well as the possibility of “repackaging” which could have resulted to food poisoning.
She added that the Philippine National Police will also conduct investigations on the matter to provide a clearer picture.
The FDA will also study samples of candies distributed allegedly by two manufacturers, one of them non-licensed, as part of the efforts in shedding light to the poisoning incident. (PNA)