Dr Annuar Rapaee
Angy Ng
Dr Hu Chang Hock
Roy Ting
Similarly, they need to wash their hands before handling or preparing food. – Dr Annuar Rapaee, Nangka assemblyman
SIBU: Members of the public have been advised to avoid consuming unrefrigerated leftovers as they may contain harmful bacteria.
UK-trained medical specialist Dr Annuar Rapaee reminded people to ensure that their food was well cooked, especially meat, before eating it.
“Don’t eat leftover food that has not been kept in the refrigerator,” advised Dr Annuar who has gone through a Sub-specialty Advance Training at Germany Heart Institute, Berlin, Germany.
The source of the new strain of E coli in Europe continues to remain elusive as the death toll climbed to 27, leaving more than 2,800 people in at least 14 countries sick, according to agencies.
Elsewhere, German authorities were reported to have told people to avoid raw sprouts, cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce.
In the latest development, Thai authorities believed they had detected E coli bacteria in avocados imported from Europe and were checking for connection with the deadly outbreak in Europe, the source stated.
“People must practise a high standard of personal hygiene and cleanliness at all times. They need to wash their hands thoroughly with soap after coming out from toilets.
“Similarly, they need to wash their hands before handling or preparing food,” Dr Annuar, who is also Nangka assemblyman, told The Borneo Post in a telephone interview yesterday.
“Ensure that food is well cooked before eating them as raw food may contain harmful bacteria,” the cardiologist advised.
Meanwhile, according to agencies, the O104 strain of enterohaemorrhagic E coli was detected in a shipment of avocados from an undisclosed European city.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sibu sub-branch advisor Dr Hu Chang Hock, who holds a master’s degree in infectious disease and tropical medicine, said: “Go for local fruits if you have doubts or concerned about imported ones.
“The outbreak still remains a mystery and it is not possible at this point in time to say which is safe for consumption and which is not.”
He said the best defence now was to practise good personal hygiene and take well-cooked food.
Asked on avocado, he said most people ate it raw rather than cooked.
“Not all fruits can be cooked and some might taste funny if cooked,” he noted, suggesting people eat local fruits if they were still worried about E coli bacteria.
Dr Hu noted that the outbreak had adversely impacted the income of farmers.
A member of the public, Angy Ng, said he was using all local fruits for his salad.
“I am not taking chances as I wash the vegetables and fruits thoroughly including keeping a high standard of personal hygiene,” he stressed.
Roy Ting, a general manager of a hotel, said vegetables remained popular at banquets and wedding dinners.
“It has not come to a stage where people start avoiding greens or fruits,” he observed.