TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Thursday (March 28) said four more people have reported feeling ill after dining at a Taipei eatery, bringing the total number of people suspected of food poisoning to 17, two of whom have died.
Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元) said that three more customers from New Taipei City reported symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea after dining at a branch of Malaysian restaurant Polam Kopitiam in the basement food court of Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store on Sunday (March 24), reported SET News. The fourth new case ate fried rice noodles at the restaurant and initially sought medical treatment at a Taipei hospital, but later returned to his hometown of Tainan City.
Of the 17 patients tied to the Polam Kopitiam case, five are in intensive care units, one is in a regular hospital bed, nine are recuperating at home, and two have died. The ministry believes the cause was likely food poisoning, but they cannot rule out the possibility of “human factors.”
“The symptoms caused by bongkrek acid are quite similar, but because it has never occurred in Taiwan, we are now ordering standard samples from abroad. Only with these standard samples can we conduct tests. Human factors are certainly not ruled out, so prosecutors are taking part in the investigation,” said Hsueh.
Deputy Health Minister Victor Wang (王必勝) said, "This food poisoning incident is very serious and is different from other (previous cases). It progressed into liver failure and multiple organ failure, which is also different. So, based on these factors, I think determining the cause is indeed not easy."
Bongkrek acid is a respiratory toxin produced by the bacterium Burkholderia gladioli pathovar cocovenenans, according to the Journal of Medical Toxicology. The toxin has been detected in cases of food-borne illnesses reported in Indonesia and China involving products made from coconut, corn, and rice.
According to Wang, the customers who reported becoming ill had eaten various rice noodle dishes at the restaurant between March 19 and 22.
