Fifty-three people have now been confirmed to have been affected by Sisi kuning wakye suspected of poisoning in Oyibi in Greater Accra.
A joint investigation by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) revealed that 53 people developed symptoms of foodborne illness after consuming waakye or rice and tomato rice from a food vendor called Yellow Sisi located in Bush. Canteen, Oyibi suburb.
The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) in a statement dated January 27, 2023 and released on Friday evening after a report by Graphic Online said it received a notification through the Food Safety Alert System on Sunday, January 22, 2023 about an outbreak of foodborne diseases.
He said the incident happened in Oyibi, in Adneta Municipality, in the Greater Accra Region.
In line with the Food Security Emergency Response Plan, a joint investigation with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) commenced immediately.
Poor food handling practices
“As of now, one (1) person has been reported dead, but the cause of death has not been confirmed,” he said.
“Environmental assessment at the food preparation site located in Malejor and three vending sites at Bush Canteen, Prison Joint and Sharp Curve Joint revealed poor food handling practices that could lead to food contamination, leading to foodborne disease outbreaks.
Operation Yellow Side was suspended
The FDA said it has suspended operations at Yellow Sis until steps are taken to ensure its activities are in place to prevent future incidents.
Online Graphics Mary Anane Amponsah reported that the victims included a waakye seller, popularly known as Sisi Kuning, and some of his family members were taken to Valley View Hospital, Oyibi Hospital, Dodowa Hospital and other facilities when they complained of stomach pain after being sick. ate food last week there.
The Yellow Waakye Side Joint is considered to be one of the popular dishes at Kantin Bush Oyibi.
When the Daily Graphic team visited the area, they found that the place was deserted and the stalls were locked.
Some shops near the food joint were also closed as it is believed that the shop owners who also enjoyed the food that day and suffered side effects, will also be hospitalized.
Confirmation, investigation
When the Daily Graphic followed up at Valley View Hospital for confirmation, hospital officials confirmed the incident, indicating that some patients were brought to the hospital in bad condition but “as of today, all patients have been discharged,” and officials said.
Officials at Valley View Hospital could not provide sufficient information on the number of people who may be affected but only indicated that data from the hospital has been forwarded to Kpone Katamanso District Hospital where further investigations are underway to determine the cause of the problem.
Officials at the district hospital confirmed the story but said they were conducting further tests on the patients to find out if it was indeed a case of food poisoning or something else.
“Currently, some other people are still visiting the hospital and, therefore, until all the necessary laboratory tests are completed, we cannot provide specific data on the number of people affected or whether there are cases of food poisoning,” said Dr. Esther Danquah from the hospital. district.
The victim’s narrative
One of the victims who gave his name as Hakim Ankomah said he started having stomach pains and then diarrhea during the day, but did not think it was a “big deal” and took medicine to treat himself.
However, he pointed out that three other residents who operate shops around the joint and also support the waakye, as they often do, are very sick and end up hospitalized and unable to return to open their shops for business. since last Friday.
The wife of one of the deceased Daily graphs met and who only gave her husband’s name as Kennedy, revealed that her husband died last time at St John’s Hospital in Amrahia, when he was rushed there after complaining of stomach pain and diarrhoea.
“He started complaining on Friday that he didn’t feel well, but we thought it was normal. Later, when it got worse, he was taken to the hospital but he didn’t survive,” said the widow.
He said later he heard news that many other people were affected and were in different hospitals in the community.
Some relatives of Kennedy were found at the Oyibi Police Station following the matter.
They, however, refused to talk Daily graphs about the incident as they said the police are investigating.
At the Oyibi Police Station, despite confirmation that a case of food poisoning had been reported there, the police refused to give details to the Daily Graphic team, instead directing them to get more information from the police headquarters.
Source: graphiconline.com
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