Puffer fish tragedy : Wife dead, husband in ICU

KLUANG - A woman died while her husband is being treated at the intensive care unit (ICU) in Enche' Besar Hajjah Kalsom Hospital after eating a pufferfish meal last Saturday.

State Health and Unity Exco Ling Tian Soon said prior to the death, the woman experienced shortness of breath and shivered at 3pm.

She was rushed the the hospital.

He said about an hour later the victim's husband also experienced the same symptoms.

"The couple was taken to the emergency department at 5pm but the victim was confirmed dead at 7pm while her husband is still being treated in ICU,he said in a statement today.

Ling said the couple had ordered the puffer fish from a seller through Facebook.

He said after receiving the fish last Saturday, the victim fried it for lunch and it was understood that it was the first time the couple had cooked puffer fish.

"Further investigation found that the fish was from fishermen in Endau before being taken by wholesalers to be processed in Batu Pahat," he said.

He said puffer fish sellers from Batu Pahat deliver the fish to customers based on orders through Facebook.

"A total of 15 kilograms of fish have been sold to four customers each in Chamek and Paloh, and one in Yong Peng that day.

In the meantime, Tian Soon said, the Kluang and Batu Pahat District Health Offices have taken samples of the fish from customers who bought the fish from the seller for laboratory testing.

"People should always be careful when choosing food especially if it has risks," he said.