Following receipt of SPHL Report on Food Samples (Fish) collected from Pongching villagers affected by Acute Gastroenteritis outbreak, the following notification has been communicated from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer’s Office, Longleng:

1.                  That the food contamination was determined by the SPHL lab to be bacterial, namely Streptococcus Aureus, E. Coli & Yeast and Mold.

2.                  Presence of S. Aureus in cooked food indicates unhygienic handling of food. 

3.                  Presence of E. Coli in cooked food is an indicator of fecal contamination and a sign of unhygienic handling of food.

4.                  Food borne molds and yeast may be hazardous to human health because of the ability to produce toxin metabolite known as mycotoxins.

5.                  Pesticides were found to be below the maximum residue limit as per Food Safety and Standard Regulation, 2021.

CMO’s Office, Longleng would like to advise the public on ways to prevent such outbreak in the future by maintaining clean hygiene, specially handwashing (before and after handling animal products), to properly wash the utensils that are used for handling animal products, not to consume raw or partially cooked animal products, to drink filtered or boiled water, and to seek medical attention without delay.

(Manjong Phom IA Longleng)