Fake salmonella outbreak warning making its rounds

KLANG: Following the food poisoning incident at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) here, a WhatsApp message claiming that there is a salmonella outbreak in the Klang Valley has gone viral.

The message, purportedly based on information derived from a doctor in a government hospital, urges everyone to be cautious when consuming food and drinks from eateries.

The WhatsApp message also claimed the contamination was from a water source and the outbreak was life-threatening.

When contacted, Health Ministry director of disease control division Dr Chong Chee Keong said there were currently no known cases of any salmonella outbreak.

“There isn’t any major outbreak at the moment,” he said.

Another source from the Health Ministry said it was irresponsible of people to use the HTAR incident to create public fear.

When contacted, Klang Municipal Council Health Department director Azmi Muji said Klang was not hit by any outbreak.

“We have no salmonella outbreak or water-borne diseases in Klang so far,” said Azmi.

The caterer is well known in Klang and has serviced government departments as well as provided food and refreshments for state events over the years.

HTAR came into the limelight in August last year when its canteen was ordered to stop operations when a video emerged showing a rat eating vegetables at the buffet counter.

Back in 2002, 35 trainee nurses fell ill after consuming food at the HTAR canteen.

In March 1997, five doctors were among 58 people treated for food poisoning after eating at the hospital canteen.