Initial laboratory findings point to the presence of salmonella in a chicken dish with cream served by a catering business under investigation, the head of the Health Ministry’s Health Services, Herodotos Herodotou, told CNA.
Herodotou said the finding is not yet final, with confirmatory tests expected over the weekend. The final report into the incident is also expected within the same timeframe.
“We have an initial indication, which must be confirmed in the coming days, tomorrow or the day after. This indication shows that there was salmonella in chicken with cream. But it must be confirmed,” he said.
He added that salmonella also appears, at first sight, to have been detected in stool samples from affected individuals. Hospitals are continuing their own laboratory tests and will submit the relevant notification forms to the competent authorities, he said.
The Health Services are also examining other possible causes of the symptoms reported.
Possible involvement of toxin-producing bacteria
Herodotou said some people developed symptoms within a particularly short period of time, leading authorities to also examine whether a toxin-producing bacterium may have been involved.
“We are also studying the possibility that some people were affected by a bacterium that produces toxins. So both may coexist, salmonella and the toxin-producing bacterium,” he said.
Suspension remains in force
The catering premises at the centre of the investigation remain under suspension, Herodotou said.
“The operation of the specific suspected premises was suspended. The law allows us to suspend it for four days at a time until we are satisfied, as a service, that the risk has been eliminated,” he said.
He added that the business must show that it has identified the source of the problem, brought the risks under control, carried out the necessary disinfections and that its food safety system, known as HACCP, is adequate for the scale of its operations.
“When it proves to us that the system it currently applies corresponds to the volume of work it carries out, then we will give permission for it to reopen,” he said, adding that the timing of any reopening depends on the actions taken by the company itself.
Asked about a second similar incident under investigation, Herodotou said the latest information he had received concerned a wedding reception held last Saturday and served by the same catering business.
He also urged members of the public with relevant information to contact the competent authorities.
On the possibility of criminal liability, Herodotou said the relevant procedures would be examined once, and if, the link between the food poisoning and the specific food is proven beyond any doubt.
Source: CNA
