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19 March 2024

Beware when you vomit: Check your neighbours' activities

Published
By Sneha May Francis

Over the last few months, the UAE has witnessed numerous cases of food poisoning, some that have turned fatal. The cause unfortunately isn’t always contaminated food and highlights the exposure to illegal chemicals that are used to fumigate houses.

Earlier this month, an 11-year-old girl in Sharjah died to an alleged case of pesticide poisoning.

Last month, a 35-year-old lady and two kids died in two separate incidents in Fujairah and Ajman, following similar circumstances.

The Dubai Municipality has been constantly working towards ensuring these banned pesticides don’t reach residential areas, and has stepped up its efforts to nab the men who continue to sell them on the streets.

“These cases are diagnosed food poisoning because it is hard to identify the source of the toxin based on clinical symptoms such as vomiting. We normally blame the last meal as the suspected cause of illness,” observed Khalid Sharif, the Director of Food Control Departments.

He highlighted that the Dubai Municipality works along with the Dubai Health Authority to ensure such cases are accurately identified.

“When we receive the notification, the food control department’s team of investigators acts immediately and contact the doctors, and the people who are affected to collect the details of their food exposure. This helps us to identify the food that could be suspected as the cause of illness and then take adequate measures to protect others if necessary.”

Sharif reports how of a case where a few men were being treated over suspected food poisoning. Upon investigation they learnt that it was an unlikely case of food-borne illness as victims hadn’t consumed the same food.
 
They contacted  the Pest Control Section and conducted a joint investigation, which revealed that 20 cans of Aluminium Phosphide was found in the apartment next to where the victims were residing.

The residents of that apartment had used the illegal chemical and vacated the property for a day.

“Often, residents don’t suspect that their neighbour has carried out pest control because there is no smell. Hence, the risk is significantly higher,” highlighted Bobby Krishna, food control expert at DM.

“This is why the cases first emerge as food poisoning cases because the victim’s family is unable to determine that pest control activity was carried out in their neighbourhood.”
 
Elaborating how most suspected food poisoning cases eventually pan out to chemical toxin cases, he said, “After the initial investigation,  we find that there is nothing in the food history of the person that could be attributed to bacterial poisoning.

“It was also noticed that the victims stayed in the same room or same flat. However, none of these cases reported classic symptoms of bacterial food poisoning – diarrhoea or fever. And, the stool and blood results also came negative.”

Such exposure leads to severe onset of vomiting and fatality, especially among children who are intolerant to even small levels of these toxins.

Basheer Hassan Yusuf, senior food safety specialist at the department, emphasized how people do not die through food-borne infections within 24 hours. 

He added that bacterial infections take time to set in and could take anywhere from a day to weeks or months. Organisms such as Salmonella, some type of EColi cause severe illness, and lack of treatment can lead to death.

Some bacteria such as Bacillus Cereus, Staphylcoccus aureus and Clostridium Botulinum produce toxin in food.

“In case a restaurant is suspected, we can  see whether other people who have eaten the same meal are ill and identify common foods. In the absence of a common food, environmental exposure has to be suspected.

Krishna urged residents to use the services of Dubai Municipality-approved companies and to inform their neighbours and building watchman when they use pest control services.

Awareness is key in eradicating this menace, with the officer insisting that every residential building must put up posters explaining the consequences of using unlicensed companies. “This way, we can reach out to every resident even if they don’t subscribe to newspapers.
 
“They must know that it can be prevented or else it can be fatal.”

Although the number of chemical poisoning cases in Dubai have dropped  to almost nil, Basheer urged the need to spread the awareness about the dangerous impact of Aluminium Phosphide (nicknamed bomb).
 
The Food Control department listed out a few signs to lookout for:

1. If severe vomiting is noticed, we shouldn’t conclude that it is a case of food poisoning. They should notify the food control and the pest department immediately.

2. Any delay in notification would reduce the probability of finding the problem.

3. Public should refrain from using such chemicals. Notify the municipality at 800900 if anyone is found selling Aluminium Phosphide(bomb).

4. Also look for signs of fumigation such as bugs falling off dead, your neighbour sealing their doors with tapes especially during weekends etc.

5. Contact a pest control agency approved by Dubai Municipality for managing pests.