Raw Barking Deer Meat Causes Mass Poisoning

Raw barking deer meat causes mass poisoning

NAN: -- More than 50 villagers in the northern province of Nan have been hospitalised following their eating raw meat of a barking deer ("Keng" in Thai), but a medical doctor said that initial diagnosis indicated that the food wasn't likely to be contaminated with clostridium botulinum toxin.

Nan health officials, including Chatchapat Panit from the heath department and a team of medical doctors, are investigating the illness of 53 patients suffering from food poisoning who were admitted to Song Kwae district hospital late Thursday night.

The patients have severe stomach pain, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea, while two cases are in a severe condition with muscle contraction and numb tongues, said Dr. Chatchapat.

Patient Plien Kanthi said he ate raw meat of the barking deer that he bought from a hill tribe man from a nearby village.

Song Kwae Hospital director Dr. Methawut Thonginta said that most of the patients have recovered after the treatment but two patients remain in critical condition. The physician said he prescribed treatment with an anti-bacterial drug, but despite the initial diagnosis, the medical team is not yet certain of the malady or the treatment.

However, food samples were sent to the Regional Medical Sciences Centre in Chiang Mai for further investigation, Dr. Methawut said.

--TNA 2007-01-26