Some Common Food Bacteria Information

I hope the following information may help.

Campylobacter

Source: Contaminated water, raw milk, and raw or undercooked meat, poultry, or shellfish.

Symptoms: Fever, headache and muscle pain followed by diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea that appear 2 to 5 days after eating; may last 7 to 10 days.


Botulism

Source: Bacteria produce a toxin that causes illness. Improperly canned foods, garlic in oil, vacuum-packed and tightly wrapped food.

Symptoms: Toxin affects the nervous system. Symptoms usually appear 18 to 36 hours, but can sometimes appear as few as 4 hours or as many as 8 days after eating; double vision, droopy eyelids, trouble speaking and swallowing, and difficulty breathing. Fatal in 3 to 10 days if not treated.

Clostridium

Source: Food left for long periods in steam tables or at room temperature. Bacteria destroyed by cooking, but some toxin-producing spores may survive.

Symptoms: Diarrhea and gas pains may appear 8 to 24 hours after eating; usually last about 1 day, but less severe symptoms may persist for 1 to 2 weeks.


E. coli

Source: Contaminated water, raw milk, raw or rare ground beef, unpasteurized apple juice or cider, uncooked fruits and vegetables; person-to-person.

Symptoms: Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and malaise; can begin 2 to 5 days after food is eaten, lasting about 8 days.


Listeria

Source: Ready-to-eat foods such as hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts, fermented or dry sausage, and other deli-style meat and poultry, soft cheeses and unpasteurized milk.

Symptoms: Fever, chills, headache, backache, sometimes upset stomach, abdominal pain and diarrhea; may take up to 3 weeks to become ill. More serious illness may develop in pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.


Listeria

Source: Ready-to-eat foods such as hot dogs, luncheon meats, cold cuts, fermented or dry sausage, and other deli-style meat and poultry, soft cheeses and unpasteurized milk.

Symptoms: Fever, chills, headache, backache, sometimes upset stomach, abdominal pain and diarrhea; may take up to 3 weeks to become ill. More serious illness may develop in pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Salmonella (over 2300 types)

Source: Raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, and meat; raw milk and dairy products; seafood, and food handlers.

Symptoms: Stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, chills, fever, and headache usually appear 8 to 72 hours after eating; may last 1 to 2 days.



Shigella (over 30 types)

Source: Person-to-person by fecal-oral route; fecal contamination of food and water. Most outbreaks result from food, especially salads, prepared and handled by workers using poor personal hygiene.

Symptoms: Disease referred to as "shigellosis" or bacillary dysentery. Diarrhea containing blood and mucus, fever, abdominal cramps, chills, and vomiting; 12 to 50 hours from ingestion of bacteria; can last a few days to 2 weeks.


Staphylococcus

Source: Person-to-person by fecal-oral route; fecal contamination of food and water. Most outbreaks result from food, especially salads, prepared and handled by workers using poor personal hygiene.

Symptoms: Disease referred to as "shigellosis" or bacillary dysentery. Diarrhea containing blood and mucus, fever, abdominal cramps, chills, and vomiting; 12 to 50 hours from ingestion of bacteria; can last a few days to 2 weeks.

GEYLANG SERAI FOOD POISONING

Channel NewsAsia - Tuesday, April 7

SINGAPORE :

As the family of the first victim of the Geylang mass food poisoning incident prepare for a funeral, another is keeping a close watch as Noraini Kasim fights for her life at Alexandra Hospital.


The 59—year old who had eaten Indian rojak from the same hawker stall, is now in a coma.

On Monday morning, 57—year—old Madam Aminah Samijo who had been in a coma, died without regaining consciousness after being rushed to the intensive care unit of Changi General Hospital.

The hospital diagnosed the canteen assistant who arrived unconscious, unresponsive and with breathing difficulties, as suffering from Gastroenteritis and septic shock.

The body of Madam Aminah has been handed over to her family at about 12.15pm Tuesday.

Seven family members were at the Singapore General Hospital to claim the body which had undergone an autopsy to determine the exact cause of her death.

The dead woman’s son, 23—year—old Salleh Omar told 938Live that Indian rojak was his mother’s favourite dish and she had patronised weekly the popular stall known as Rojak Geylang Serai.

Mr Salleh said it’s too early to say what action the family will take against the stall owner as the family is concentrating on the funeral.

Speaking at the family flat in Eunos Crescent, Madam Aminah’s daughter, Siti, said her mum who will be greatly missed was well—liked and a great cook.

Apart from Mdm Aminah, another member of the family, her younger brother Ahmad Samijo, also came down with food poisoning after eating from the stall last Wednesday.

He managed to recover from the bout through outpatient treatment.

In all, the Health Ministry has received 111 reports of food poisoning linked to the Rojak Geylang Serai stall at the Geylang Serai Temporary Market.

The victims include a 38—year—old housewife, Rosiah Samat who received a special treat of Indian rojak from her husband on Friday.

The mother—to—be who ended up with food poisoning also suffered a miscarriage.

So far 27 people have had to be hospitalised, while the rest received outpatient treatment at various emergency departments for symptoms that includes severe abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Preliminary investigations show the cases to be associated with the food from the stall which has been ordered to be closed after being inspected by the Health Ministry and National Environment Agency (NEA).

The stallholder and his assistant have been told to undergo screening for food borne pathogens at the Communicable Disease Centre while other stalls in the area have undergone a hygiene inspection.

The precautionary measure by the NEA has found that the other food stalls are satisfactory and stallholders were reminded to keep up a high standard of food and personal hygiene.

im attacked with food bacteria

Woke up with a severe stomach pain is already bad enough.

With gripping pain every 5 mins, it sucks! ugh. sorry. ( I seek refuge in allah )

I was tossing and turning since sunday early morning. Finally I couldnt take the pain, went to the doctor. After the medication, still felt the same!

The pain got worse so no choice, got to go to the hospital.

The attending physician is a muslim. Alhamduillah. She is a chinese convert. It feels good if u bump into ur own kind.

So she asked me did i have anything got to do with indian rojak food poisoning @ geylang serai. U can read more over here.

I said no. I dun fancy indian rojak, i prefer chinese rojak.

So back to business, got some medication but still very painful.

Back at home, pain comes every 30 mins, and I develop diarrhoea today so I make use of 30 mins and do whatever I can do.

I hate to be sick, cant do my prayers properly and got to make up for prayers. ugh.

Then my work will be piling....