The food poisoning case in Siputeh, Batu Gajah, Perak, yesterday, was the first incident believed to have been caused by contamination from weed killer that was blown by the wind when sprayed near foodstalls.

Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam said the ministry viewed the matter seriously and would issue a guideline on the spraying of weed killer to avoid a similar incident.

"The spraying of weedicide has actually caused the food poisoning on this scale. Normally we do have weedicide (cases), by those attempting to commit suicide by drinking it and then go to hospital (for treatment), but this is not the case.

"This, it is not direct (contamination). This is indirect kind of contamination from a source and caused problem. Weedicide is a very strong poison. It can paralyse our system. We are quite surprised by this type of contamination," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said the ministry would conduct further investigation into the case and advised those with symptoms of food poisoning to seek immediate treatment.

Dr Subramaniam was met after receiving a replica cheque from Permaisuri Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, for the purchase of a Computed Tomography-Simulator (CT-Simulator) machine.

Meanwhile, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in a statement today, said that the laboratory test conducted on the blood samples of nine food poisoning victims in Siputeh found that they had been exposed to 'organophosphorus' (pesticide).

As of yesterday, 30 men and seven women aged between two and 71 years have been treated at the Batu Gajah Hospital (HBG) for vomiting and diarrhoea believed to be due to food poisoning.

Twenty-four of the victims were discharged the same evening, nine are still receiving treatment at HBG, while four others are in critical condition and being treated at Raja the Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh.

- Bernama