Monday, April 6, 2009

Madam Aminah Samijo, 57, came down with severe food poisoning after a meal at the Rojak Geylang Serai stall last Friday.

She went into a coma, making her the worst hit among the more than 100 people who sought treatment at six major hospitals after eating at the stall.

A statement from Changi General Hospital (CGH) on Monday said she died at 6.50 am on Monday.

Madam Aminah, who had no known medical problems before the food poisoning, was brought to CGH in an ambulance on Saturday at 11.45 pm.

'She was unconscious and unresponsive, and had difficulty breathing,' said CGH. She was immediately admitted to the intensive care unit where she was diagnosed with 'severe Gastroenteritis with septic shock'.

'She also had a fever, which is a sign of infection. We immediately started her on antibiotics to treat the infection and put her on ventilator support. She was also given medications for low blood pressure and diarrhoea,' added CGH.

'Despite all our efforts to treat her, Madam Aminah subsequently suffered from acute renal failure as the infection had hit her kidneys. Dialysis was not an option in view of her low blood pressure.'

Her husband Omar Ali, who is in his 50s, was also admitted to CGH but he is recovering. Two other family members, Madam Siti Hamidah, a housewife in her 40s, who is Madam Aminah's sister, and her brother, also fell ill after eating there.

CGH said it has treated 77 patients for Gastroenteritis. Sixteen were warded and are in stable condition. The others have been discharged. All were admitted for profuse diarrhoea and dehydration.

Rojak Geylang Serai, Stall No. 320, has been around for more than 20 years, and often has long queues snaking from it.

The Ministry of Health and the National Environment Agency jointly inspected the stall on Saturday and collected samples. The stallholder and his assistant have been asked to go for screening at the Communicable Diseases Centre. The stallholder told authorities that his stall would be closed for the next two days.

Source: Straits Times