Five in custody after mass food poisoning

Five persons are in custody as police continue to probe the reason why over 100 members of the ‘B’ Division Community Policing Group suffered food poisoning after having lunch at a retreat on Sunday.

While many persons were discharged from hospital, a few had to be readmitted yesterday after they experienced more vomiting, diarrhoea and other symptoms.
Police last evening confirmed that five were in custody assisting with the investigations after the incident, which took place at the Berbice High School, where nearly 350 persons were in attendance at the retreat.

According to police, samples of the food and drink served have been sent for testing. Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud told Stabroek News yesterday that the investigation is in the hands of the regional health authorities in Berbice. He said the Ministry of Health will get involved at some stage, but “currently have no details.” Chief Executive Officer of the Berbice Regional Health Authority Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, when contacted later in the day, briefly commented that the investigations are underway.

A source close to the investigation revealed yesterday that it was likely a bacterial infection as a result of spoilt meat. Toxins in the meat, which was prepared as part of the meal, triggered the health problems for those who ate at the retreat, the source explained, while noting that persons who were affected started showing signs and symptoms within an hour. Depending on how much food is consumed, the signs would show up early. Some persons at the retreat first complained of feeling nauseous and within minutes they experienced vomiting and diarrhoea. However, the source said, the majority of affected persons were not afflicted by diarrhoea.

Regional Chairman, Harrinarine Baldeo (right) and other persons at the Fort Wellington Hospital

According to the source, the investigation has pointed to poor meal preparation. Some persons investigating the case have since gathered information from some caterers within the Berbice area and some have confessed to preparing meat from the night before meals are cooked and served – they slow cook meat and leave it in that state for hours before actually cooking it. “From the time an animal is killed the meat has toxins inside which can be harmful which is why storage is important as is preparation,” the source added.

Readmitted

A woman from West Berbice told Stabroek News that she was discharged on Sunday night thinking she was okay but she had to be rushed again yesterday morning.
From her hospital bed, she said her mouth was numb and her “belly cutting away [hurting]” and she was “having cramps.” She said too that she was experiencing headache and dizziness and kept “vomiting slime all the time.”

She recalled that they had lunch at 1 pm and shortly after the afternoon session resumed she noticed a lot of people going outside and vomiting.
She said she then started to feel upset and was taken to the nearby New Amsterdam Hospital along with the others. As soon as she reached, she too started vomiting. Some people collapsed in the process.

She said the nurses and doctors were very attentive and shortly after being given saline and an injection, she started to get relief from her symptoms. However, she felt the poison was still in her system.

Another woman told this newspaper that the food “did not smell too good” but it tasted good and she and the others continued to eat it. About half an hour later she felt a “serious pain” in her stomach but ignored it because she felt it was because she had eaten late. She became concerned after she noticed the others, including pregnant women and children “running out of the building and vomiting. Water was not enough for them. The children were jumping up and hollering.”

When they got over to the hospital, she recalled, some persons were “walking and falling down and some just vomiting all over the hospital. Some people who had diarrhoea were messing up themselves.”

The woman said too that while in the emergency unit, they were given bowls to vomit in. She said there was no space in the wards and that she and some other persons had to sit on the floor and take their saline.

After having five bottles of saline, she was sent home later that night. When she spoke to this newspaper yesterday she was feeling “very weak.” She said that it was a scary experience and she felt that she would have died.

Radha, another West Berbice woman, said when everyone was being taken to the hospital she was okay and was assisting them. She and other persons who were not affected were given injections. Afterwards, she too started to throw up and experienced diarrhoea.

Nandkishore Deokie was one of the persons who was not affected and had received an injection. He said his wife Val was not responding when she first got to the hospital and he felt he “woulda lose she.” He, too, was assisting persons at the hospital.
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At the Fort Wellington Hospital on Sunday evening, Regional Chairman of Region Five Harrinarine Baldeo accompanied persons, including a few children who had to be treated at that institution. Baldeo was also present at the function and said he had eaten the food early and was not affected.

Some of the members had told this newspaper that they had already reached home when they started having symptoms and had to be rushed to the hospital.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Stephen Mansell also received treatment at the institution. (Additional reporting by Iana Seales)