34 Central Lombok Residents Poisoned By Rice Wraps, Health Office Checks Cause

The victims of suspected poisoning of packaged rice while being treated at the Ubung Health Center, Jonggat District, Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) (ANTARA/Akhyar)

MATARAM - The Health Service (Dinkes) of Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) took a sample of rice wrap which is suspected to have caused dozens of residents of Ubung Village to be confused, so they were treated at the local health center on Sunday 5 June.

"A sample of the packaged rice has been taken and laboratory tests have been carried out to BPOM Mataram to determine the bacterial content of the packaged rice eaten by the residents," said Head of the Central Lombok Health Office, Suardi in Praya, NTB, quoted from Antara, Monday 6 June.

Based on reports from officers in the field, the number of residents suspected of being poisoned by the age eating the packaged rice is around 34 people.

However, some of the victims have been sent home after being given drugs and other victims are infusions. "The victim's condition has improved after being given medical assistance at the local health center," he said.

Dozens of residents of Ubung Village, Jonggat District, Central Lombok, NTB are suspected of having confused rice wraps.

"The victims were around 34 people, they experienced dizziness and nausea, so they were taken to the Puskesmas for medical treatment," said Babinkamtibmas of Ubung Village, Bripka Iriawan.

The victims, both adults and children, suspected of being poisoned by the packaged rice, were treated at three health centers namely Ubung, Bonjeruk and Menemeng Health Centers. The victims are still undergoing treatment and some have returned home after being given medication and their condition improving.

"There are still being treated and some have gone home after being given medicine," he said.

The incident began when the victims went on a tomb pilgrimage in Batulayar, Mataram City, with a packed lunch made by one of the victims and his family. After arriving at the tomb, at around 12.30 WITA they ate wrapped rice and went home.

Furthermore, when they arrived home at around 15.00 WITA, one by one the victims felt dizzy and nauseous, so they were taken to the Puskesmas for medical treatment.

"Dizzy and nauseous, after eating the packaged rice which contains meat and eggs and gado-gado," said one of the victims of Sapwan's rice poisoning.

"Alhamdulillah, my current condition has improved," said another victim, Hapzah.

Meanwhile, Ubung Azizah Health Center officer said the number of residents treated at this health center suspected of having been poisoned by the packaged rice was around 24 people. "Dozens of people were given the IV, while the others went home after being given medicine," he concluded.