Mass Poisoning in Cilawu, Garut, Claims Lives, Health Department Searches to Find Out Cause

Garut Health Office officers conducted a search of the case of food poisoning residents in Cilawu District, Garut Regency, West Java, Monday (9/10/2023). (ANTARA/HO-Dinkes Garut)

WEST JAVA - The Health Office is looking for the cause of the alleged poisoning that claimed lives experienced by a number of residents in Cilawu District, Garut Regency.

Residents of Cilawu are suspected of being poisoned by complaints of illness and have to receive medical treatment at health facilities.

"It is still being investigated, where is the source, the suspicion from clear food, poisoning", said Head of Disease Prevention and Control at the Garut District Health Office Asep Surachman when contacted, Tuesday, October 10, was confiscated by Antara.

He said the team from the Garut District Health Office had gone to the field after getting many residents treated at health centers and clinics, Monday 9 October due to poisoning after eating food.

Regarding the type of food suspected, he said, it was still being searched by asking for information from a number of victims who were being treated and then an initial search of the food consumed by residents was carried out.

"We are still in the field conducting investigations", he said.

He said the number of residents who were victims of poisoning was still being recorded, because until Tuesday, October 10 afternoon the number was still increasing.

The victims of the poisoning, he said, were not only residents of Cilawu District, but were scattered in several areas, there were also residents from Cigalontang District, Tasikmalaya Regency.

"The data is being updated again, because it has added more", he said.

The Head of Cilawu Sub-district, Anas Aolia Malik, said that in the incident, 17 poisoned people were temporarily treated at the Cilawu Health Center and the Cihideung Clinic, apart from being treated, two people died.

He said the incident began when there was a report at the Cilawu Health Center full of patients who were victims of food poisoning, then an identity check was carried out which turned out to be not only Garut residents, but also residents outside Tasikmalaya Regency whose area borders Garut.

Information that develops in the community and patients, he said, is that victims who are treated and died because they previously consumed skin satai food or are often referred to as satai jebred.