At least 43 from Pongching Village under Longleng district reportedly got admitted to the district hospital from a suspected case of mass food poisoning after consuming fish on Thursday, 15 June 2023.

Accordingly, after preliminary enquiry and further investigation, a sample of cooked fish, reportedly consumed by the group has been sent to the State Public Health laboratory in Kohima for testing.

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The Superintendent of Police, Longleng in a press release, informed that information was received around 11 am, on 16 June from sources that an incident of mass food poisoning happened among some villagers of Pongching, Longleng. Some of the patients were admitted to District Hospital Longleng.

After receiving the information, the Officer in Charge, Police proceeded to District Hospital Longleng for preliminary enquiry.

According to the enquiry, it said that at least 43 (Forty-three) persons were admitted to the hospital showing symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea.

On inquiry, “it was found that on 14 June 2023, some food (fish) was bought from one local shopkeeper by a group of people above (60-70) from Pongching village as they had to go a terraced/paddy field to work the next day.”

The fish was said to have been cooked and consumed by the group the next day, during lunch.

Soon after that, members of the group started complaining of physical illness (diarrhoea, stomach-ache) by evening and night for which the sick persons were taken to hospital for treatment.

Representatives from the Food Safety Department and the Chamber of Commerce Longleng also visited the District Hospital, along with Police and civil administration for further action.

The samples of the cooked fish were collected, and also cooked fish from the same stock of supply was also collected from the seller. The samples were sent to the food analyst, the State Public Health Laboratory for analysis to get comprehensive testing and analysis reports, the release added.

The police also added that the statements of the doctors, people, and shopkeeper/seller were recorded, and the shop was sealed for further course of action.

The police have requested the public to cooperate and refrain from any rumour-mongering as further investigation was going on.

Read more: 45 hospitalised in Pongching Village, Longleng with food poisoning