5 of family die of suspected food poisoning

Kendrapada: A 12-year-old boy died and four of his family members fell ill, allegedly after consuming stale food at Kupukuni village under Pattamundai police station limits in the district on Saturday.The deceased, Swadhin Senapati, was a Class VI student. According to officials, the family had eaten poi saag (Malabar spinach) curry, aloo dum and watermelon on Friday night. Soon after, all five developed vomiting, diarrhoea and breathing distress, pointing to suspected food poisoning.They were first admitted to Pattamundai community health centre on Saturday morning and later shifted to the district headquarters hospital (DHH) in Kendrapada.

As Swadhin’s condition deteriorated, he was referred to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (Sishubhawan) in Cuttack, where he died during treatment,” said chief district medical and public health officer (CDM&PHO) Sachitananda Mishra.The four others — Ananta Senapati (65), Babrubahan Senapati (45), Panchanana Senapati (50) and Swagatika Senapati — are undergoing treatment at the Kendrapada DHH and are stated to be stable.

“It appears to be a case of food poisoning. We administered saline and medicines immediately. Rectal swab samples have been collected and will be sent to a laboratory in Cuttack to ascertain the cause,” the CDMO said.Police have launched an investigation. “The exact cause of death will be known after the post-mortem report. We are probing the circumstances leading to the illness and death,” said Pattamundai inspector in-charge (IIC) Bandana Patra.