Health Secretary Janette Garin on Monday said no toxic substance was found in the milk tea which allegedly poisoned two people in Manila. It was an “isolated case,” Garin said.
Avenue Medical Center and Manila City Dr. Benjamin Yson assures the public that
the “poisoning” incident in a milk-tea store in Manila is an isolated case even as
she says that more tests of samples will be conducted by experts . Inset, policemen
inspect the milk-tea store to gather evidence of the alleged poisoning. DANNY PATA
“Let me emphasize that this is isolated. In fact, this is the third time the couple bought milk tea from the same food establishment. No untoward incident happened during the previous intake,” said Garin.
The Health chief said tests showed the samples of milk tea did not contain toxic substances. However, the DOH expanded the tests to include biological samples such as blood, tissues, and gastric contents from the victims as collected during the autopsy.
A victim in the milk-tea incident, Arnold Aydalla, 34, has remained in stable condition at the Philippine General Hospital. His girlfriend, Suzaine Dagohoy, 28, vomitted and collapsed after taking a sip of the milk tea bought from Ergo Cha Milk Tea House on Bustos Street last Thursday.
The owner of the tea house, William Abrigo, 57, also died when he took a sip after the couple complained that the tea tasted different.
Garin said the DOH, in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and toxicologists from the UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH), studied the footage from the food store to help them assess the clinical manifestations and course of illness of the victims.
She said samples of the milk tea ingested by the victims were also submitted for examination.
Garin appealed to the public not to generalize the situation as many small and medium scale enterprises are dependent on the sale of milk tea and similar beverages.
“We call on the public to be aware of the initial signs and symptoms of poisoning, such as vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and impaired or loss of consciousness,” she said.
Whether mild or severe, she said the patient should be immediately brought to the nearest hospital.
A joint DOH-DENR Advisory concerning cyanide-containing substances has been issued in 2010.
Taking into consideration the serious health impact of cyanide-containing silver jewelry cleaning solutions, the DOH calls for the immediate passage of a law making the sale and dispensing of these substances a criminal act.