The Ministry of Health yesterday (18) downplayed the risk of listeria spreading to other parts of the island, stating that the death caused by a listeria infection was an isolated incident as of last evening.
Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena told The Sunday Morning that the concerns which had been raised about the incident had been blown out of proportion.
“There is no risk of listeria spreading. It was just one individual who had fallen ill with the sickness,” Dr. Gunawardena said, adding that the situation was being monitored by health authorities and all necessary steps were being taken to prevent any further incidents.
The death of a female pilgrim who had contracted listeria at a hospital in Ratnapura earlier last week, following a pilgrimage to Adam’s Peak, caused concern about food poisoning and listeria along the mountain trail which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Following the incident, Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) raided a number of canteens and food outlets along the trail and found some selling expired food, including dairy products.