Andrea Downer, Gleaner Writer
The Ministry of Health says Jamaicans could contract salmonella poisoning from eating raw or partially cooked eggs. Director of Veterinary Public Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Linette Peters, is warning Jamaicans to exercise care in preparing eggs to prevent them from contracting the disease.
"The Ministry of Health is recommending that eggs be properly cooked before being eaten," she said.
The Ministry says that while there has been no outbreak of the bacteria at this time, a few cases have been reported in Jamaica in the past, but mostly among visitors to the island. The Ministry said the first case it identified occurred in 2000 in a north coast hotel and since then, infections have occurred in other hotels. Dr. Peters said that cases of salmonella poisoning are more likely to occur in hotels because of how table eggs are handled and consumed.
CLIENTS REQUEST
"In the hotels, eggs are usually served partially cooked or even raw depending on what the clients are requesting," she explained
She said it is not just tourists who can become infected, but the average Jamaican could also contract salmonella poisoning if care is not taken in the handling and cooking of eggs.
HOTELIERS ARE AWARE
Head of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, and Manager of Sandals Montego Bay, Horace Peterkin, said hoteliers in Montego Bay are aware of the situation and with the help of the Ministry of Health, have taken steps to limit the possibility of infections from eggs.
In the meantime, Dr. Peters is advising consumers to select eggs that are clean on the outside and not cracked when they are buying eggs. As for their preparation, she stressed that persons should properly wash their hands with soap and water when handling them.
Salmonella is a type of bacteria usually found in poultry, eggs, unprocessed milk and in meat and water. Dr. Peters said that symptoms of salmonella poisoning usually appear within two to four hours of eating infected eggs, and includes fever, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal pain, and vomiting.
Dr. Peters says the Ministry of Health sometimes visits egg farms and checks egg samples in its efforts to monitor Jamaica's poultry industry and safeguard against salmonella infections. However, she said the monitoring is limited at this time. She said the Minstry hopes to expand the programme island wide, and begin checking table egg farms in every parish.
