The public has been advised to not touch or be exposed to carrot weed, scientifically known as ‘parthenium hysterophorus’, because it can cause allergy, especially to children and elderly people.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said pollen from the weed contained chemicals known as parthenin, hymenin and ambrosin which could be harmful to health.

“However, not everybody who is exposed to it may get allergic reaction. Some people have the allergy symptoms when exposed to it continuously and repeatedly.

“The symptoms of allergy reaction include skin rash, skin peeling, itching of the skin, swelling of the eyes, allergic rhinitis and disruption to the respiratory system, like cold and asthma,” he said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur today.

 He was commenting a report in a local newspaper yesterday on rashes and respiratory problems among workers in an oil palm plantation in Sidam, Kedah, believed to be caused by the presence of the weed, commonly known as carrot weed or star weed, which originated from Mexico.

However, Dr Noor Hisham said there was no report of an increase in patients with skin or respiratory problems, like asthma, in Perak, Kedah, Negri Sembilan and Selangor.

He advised those exposed to the weed and had  allergy  symptoms to seek immediate treatment.

They should also inform the clinic or hospital because the Health Ministry would seek the cooperation of the relevant ministries and agencies to control or destroy the weed, he added.

- Bernama