IN FOOD POISONING INCIDENT (i) Saipan Grand Hotel cleared

The Department of Public Health yesterday blamed the food prepared by the Nena and Taisacan families for the food poisoning incident that downed 98 guests, clearing Saipan Grand Hotel where the wedding reception was held last June 17.

Results of the laboratory testings showed that the mangrove crabs and the fish were contaminated with the bacteria vibrio parahaemolycticus and vibrio alginolycticus, which are in the same class of cholera. The mangrove crabs came from Kosrae and the fish were from Chuuk.

“We are pleased to know that it was not cholera but at the same time, we are very concerned that the food coming in from these countries are contaminated with those bacteria,” Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez said.

Laboratory analysis on the food served by Saipan Grand Hotel tested negative for bacteria. Three wedding receptions were held at the hotel when the food poisoning took place, but only the guests who attended the Nena-Taisacan nuptials got sick.

“The same kitchen was used to cook food for all the three parties that same night but those who came in sick were the ones that had the food from the outside,” Mr. Villagomez said.

Samples of food from the hotel and the ones prepared by the Nena and Taisacan families were analyzed by Guam Department of Public Health and the Atlanta-based Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

People who are infected with the types of bacteria found in the crabs and fish are likely to suffer from severe diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. The symptoms usually appear four to eight hours after the initial ingestion of the food.

Results of the autopsy conducted on Guillermo M. Benavente, one of the sponsors at the Nena-Taisacan wedding, showed that his heart attack was triggered by the food poisoning. Mr. Benavente, 53, complained of stomach cramps before he died in the early morning of June 18.

Ban

Amid strong lobbying by the Federated States of Micronesia, Mr. Villagomez said the ban on food coming from FSM stays due to the worsening cholera epidemic in Pohnpei.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has already ordered DPH to send help to Pohnpei by providing supplies to assist the Pacific island in coping with the health problem.

“We will always help whenever there is a disaster or need. We want to cooperate and work closely with our brothers and sisters in the Pacific,” the governor said.

Mr. Villagomez said the presence of bacteria in the food which came from Kosrae and Chuuk also justifies the prohibition of the entry of any food whether cooked or uncooked from these places.

The findings, he said, only prove that there is still a serious threat on the life of the residents in the CNMI and its visitors.
Members of the hotel industry have already expressed concern on the effect of the food poisoning incident on the island’s ailing tourism economy.

DPH is coordinating with the Department of Lands and Natural Resources in setting up mechanisms that will ensure strict inspection of cargoes coming in from these islands.

Food coming in from the Republic of Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau are still allowed entry into the CNMI but are randomly checked by the Quarantine officials just to make sure that these are not contaminated with cholera-causing bacteria. Any food from FSM will immediately be confiscated for proper disposal.

DLNR, which handles the Quarantine Division, has implemented the order of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio banning all food from the FSM after the food poisoning last month. Mr. Villagomez has asked the Customs Division to check on all cargoes coming from FSM to deter entry of food from these islands.

“We cannot just lift the ban because of the threat to people’s life. While we consider the needs of the vendors and the retailers, it is very clear that the life of the residents and the visitors must be considered first,” Mr. Villagomez said.

Measures

Education campaign will continue to be implemented by the department to increase people’s awareness on how to properly prepare food and avoid food poisoning.

DPS has also notified all doctors in private clinics to inform the department of any cases of people suffering from diarrhea to find out if the disease has something to do with cholera and should be isolated immediately.

In neighboring island Guam, the outbreak of cholera was brought by people who came from Pohnpei.

Public Health officials have sent out information materials to the community to educate them on how to prevent food-borne diseases or food poisoning. They are also working with hotels and restaurants to make sure that sanitary practices are followed in food preparation.

Health inspectors will also check hotels and restaurants to find out if the people who are preparing food in these establishments have undergone food preparation training.