Dozens Of Residents Of Jatirejo Jombang Village Are Suspected Of Poisoning After Eating Rice Blessings

Medical officers spoke with patients who were treated suspected of having been poisoned in Jombang, East Java, Monday (18/9/2023). PHOTOANTARA/HO-citizen

Dozens of residents of Jatirejo Village, Diwek District, Jombang Regency, East Java, experienced illness with the same symptoms, namely nausea and vomiting after eating the blessings received from recitation events at residents' homes.

Head of the Cukir Health Center, Dr. Rokhmah Mualidina, said that at this health center there were 30 sick patients with symptoms similar to nausea, dizziness and diarrhea. They come since Friday (15/9) night.

"There have been 30 patients who have arrived since Friday (15/9) night. The others were Saturday (16/9) morning. Of the 30 patients, 12 were hospitalized and the rest were outpatient," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, September 18.

He stated that the condition of the patients when they arrived varied. Some of them are sick with mild symptoms but some have severe diarrhea to dehydration. Patients who experience mild symptoms, they are allowed to go home, but patients who experience severe symptoms are hospitalized.

According to him, of the 12 patients who were hospitalized at the puskesmas, their condition had improved. Medical officers are still evaluating their health condition before being allowed to go home.

"Incidentally, I have been screened and 11 of the 12 patients have been allowed to go home. Those who are still hospitalized are only diarrhea," he said.

Rokhmah Mualidina also explained that the medical team had also taken samples from the food suspected to be the cause of the sick residents. The food samples were conducted laboratory tests in Surabaya, to ensure the content in the food, triggering the illness of residents.

Meanwhile, Mustakim, one of the residents who is still being treated, said that he and other residents initially attended recitation at a neighbor's house on Friday night. There are 60 worshipers at the recitation. After finishing, the hosts also brought blessings.

Then, the blessings brought home were eaten at home. He tasted the cyomay, but at that time it tasted bitter so it was thrown away.

"What is a bit strange is the ciomay. After eating it tastes a bit bitter, so it is thrown away. I also eat eggs and potatoes," he said.

He admitted that he felt unwell after eating it. On Friday night he had gone back and forth from the toilet and was worse on Saturday, so he was taken to the puskesmas.

There are also many people who have been sick like himself. Apart from being treated at the puskesmas, some are being treated at private hospitals, said Mustakim.