KOTA KINABALU: Sabah health authorities are probing whether a boy had died from food poisoning in the east coast Sandakan district.
This is following reports of a Year 4 pupil dying from suspected food poisoning on Thursday (July 25).
“We are investigating the case,” said Sabah health director Datuk Dr Asits Sanna, in a brief text message on Friday (July 26).
In a statement, Sabah education director Datuk Raisin Saidin said according to the information they obtained, the boy identified as Mohd Mifzal Anaqi Muhammad Rizal, 10, a pupil at SK Taman Rimba, experienced food poisoning with his mother at their home on Tuesday (July 23).
“The incident was not caused by food from the school canteen as it involved only one pupil and he came down with food poisoning with his mother on the same day,” he said, adding they were both warded at the hospital.
He said the school was then informed through a WhatsApp text that the boy was unable to attend classes due to the situation and had obtained two days of sick leave from July 23 to 24 to rest.
On Thursday (July 25), however, he said the class teacher was informed by a family member of the boy that he had suddenly fainted the night before and warded in the intensive care unit after being rushed to the Duchess of Kent Hospital.
“Later at 7am, the teacher was informed by the boy’s father that his son had passed away.
“The headmaster as well as several teachers then paid a visit to their family home at Kampung Tinusa to pay their respect at noon,” said Raisin.
As of now, he said, the matter is under investigation by the Sandakan health office.
He added other pupils at the school did not exhibit any symptoms of food poisoning until Friday (July 26).
“The Sabah Education Department through the Sandakan education office will help the victim’s family with the takaful insurance claims.
“We will also come up with a complete report once the probe by the Sandakan health office is completed,” he said.
