TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A Malaysian engineer became the third fatality involving bongkrek acid poisoning centered on a Malaysian restaurant in Taipei City, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Saturday (April 27).

Just like the two previous deaths, the latest casualty had eaten at the Polam Kopitiam vegetarian restaurant inside a shopping mall in Xinyi District last month. The 40-year-old was employed by Taiwan technology firm Wistron Corporation, the Liberty Times reported.

After the meal on March 21, he had severe diarrhea and visited a hospital. He was transferred to Taipei Medical University Hospital on March 24, where he was admitted into intensive care and received emergency treatment with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).

However, after a month, he had multiple organ failure. His colleagues at Wistron launched a fundraising drive to support him.

The health and welfare ministry reported a total of 35 people with signs of bongkrek acid poisoning, including the three deaths and three patients still in intensive care.