The Ministry of Health tightens control over Fesikh factories and reiterates its warning against botulism poisoning

CAIRO – April 27, 2022: A total of 27 preventive emergency rooms have been set up in Cairo and other governorates with the aim of monitoring the consumption of fermented red mullet fish “Fesikh”, which is a traditional meal during Sham el-Nessim celebrations.

The famous traditional dish “Fesikh” can cause botulism poisoning. Every year, the Ministry of Health receives reports of citizens hospitalized during the Sham el-Nessim holiday after eating spoiled Fesikh.

Despite annual warnings from the Ministry of Health not to consume Fesikh or to avoid unsafe and poorly prepared Fesikh, many cases of botulism are reported.

This year, the ministry warned citizens to permanently refrain from eating fesikh on Eid al-Fitr (breaking the fast), given the imminent health hazard it poses, which can lead to death.

The Ministry of Health and Population has confirmed that it has reviewed the strategic stock of “botulism” ampoules for the treatment of cases of poisoning resulting from the consumption of Fesikh during the celebrations of Sham El-Nessim and Eid Al -Fitr, indicating that they are provided free of charge in all hospitals.

The average use of “botulism” ampoules during the Eid al-Fitr and Sham al-Naseem holidays is 20-30 injections, noting that the average use of the same injections is 50-60 injections per year.

The Ministry of Health and Population specified the distribution of all vaccines to the governorates, in particular those producing salted fish, pointing out that a warehouse was created at the ministry to inject “botulism” in addition to a intensified control over saltfish factories and monitoring of their products in markets, especially street vendors.

The ministry added that the method of preparing fesikh is often dangerous due to the lack of salt in fesikh, while some use dead fish floating on the surface of the water after they have been exposed to the sun. started to swell, decompose and have an unpleasant odor. feel. They add a little salt to it and it is sold as fesikh after three or four days.

Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, confirmed that the rapid deployment teams have been distributed to the governorates through critical and urgent care, identification of medical evacuation hospitals, l raising the level of preparedness in all hospitals in the Republic and coordination with the Egyptian Ambulance Authority.

He added that medicines, equipment and medical supplies were secured and reinforced, and that blood bags and their derivatives were insured in all types of factions.