Ban on FSM food stays

The ban against entry of raw or cooked food items from the Federated States of Micronesia into the CNMI will remain in effect until the reported cholera outbreak in that country is cleared by local health officials here.

This was the statement of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday when asked by reporters on the status of the investigation into the food poisoning incident that occurred at a wedding reception at Saipan Grand Hotel last Saturday.

He disclosed that he has yet been given result of “the final analysis of the type of virus” that downed more than 90 guests, with one reported fatality, at the occasion celebrating the Nena-Taisacan wedding.

“The Department of Public Health is still [looking into it],” the governor told reporters.

DPH officials and doctors at the Commonwealth Health Center have kept mum on their findings from the probe which they conducted immediately after the victims started complaining of vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps hours after the reception.

They suspected, however, that the food poisoning may have been triggered by seafood imported from FSM that were brought into the hotel.

On Monday, Mr. Tenorio ordered indefinite ban on importation of seafood and other food items, whether raw or cooked, coming from FSM states of Chuuk, Yap and Pohnpei after he was briefed by DPH on the incident.

Quarantine personnel at all air and sea ports were then mobilized to guard against the entry of these food items, warning those who violate the ban will face confiscation of the cargo and payment of fees for incineration.

“We have asked the custom to take all precautionary measures on all cargo, especially food, whether it is cooked or raw, and fish, that arrive here in the CNMI from FSM,” said Mr. Tenorio, adding that such restrictions will continue “until we receive further information” from DPH.

In line with the entry ban, the governor also issued fresh instructions to the department to alert the public on the reported cholera outbreak in the neighboring islands.

Last month, Public Health Sec. Joseph Kevin Villagomez advised travelers to FSM, particularly to Pohnpei, to take precautionary measures to prevent the virus from spreading in the Commonwealth.

A list of preventative measures from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia has been going around in government offices and media services to ensure that the information is disseminated to the public.

DPH is expected to release its findings on the food poisoning incident shortly, according to officials.