Probe into death of D'souza children continues
Bobby Krishna Thulasi
http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Health/10345852.html
Probe into death of D'souza children continues |
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Dubai: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Dubai Police is still investigating the deaths of Nathan and Chelsea D'Souza, after a lab test carried out in Germany did not confirm the presence of toxic bacteria in their blood samples. Meanwhile, a lab test carried out at the Dubai Municipality laboratory proved that the last meal the children had from a Chinese restaurant in Al Qusais was free from contamination and toxins, according to Engineer Hussain Lootah, Director General of the municipality. Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, head of the CID, said investigation is still ongoing in the case, after the CID received the lab test report from Germany. Brigadier Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, head of the Criminal Investigation Department said Dubai Police took precautionary measures including analysing the children's DNA and matching it with that of their parents to confirm their relationship, which proved that they are the children's parents. Al Mansouri stressed that the police does not rule out any possibilities in such cases, adding that the test results of the children's blood and the food they allegedly consumed were referred to the public prosecution, while the CID is still investigating the case. Nathan, 5, and Chelsea, 7, died after consuming a meal from a Chinese restaurant over two months ago. The children and their mother suffered severe pain and vomiting bouts and visited NMC Specialty hospital in Al Qusais, which carried out quick tests and discharged them. Later in the night, the children suffered from pain again, and Nathan died at the same hospital, while his sister died later at Dubai Hospital. Patrick D'souza, the children's father, said all sides are trying to clear themselves and not be held responsible, as if his children died of their "own free will". He said what happened does not need explanation, because just like other children, they had a light breakfast, then had lunch and were perfectly normal before going out with their mother to Sahara mall and having ice cream and doughnuts. After they returned home, the mother ordered Chinese food from a nearby restaurant, and they all had dinner, and three hours later the pain and vomiting occurred. Sofia D'souza, the children's mother, said her children did not suffer from other diseases and were in good health. However, when they were taken to hospital, they showed symptoms of food poisoning. Sofia also said that the two children were bringing up the food they had from the restaurant. Your
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Bobby Krishna
Senior Food Studies Officer &
Co-ordinator- Dubai International Food Safety Conference
Food Control Department
Dubai Municipality
Mob : + 971 50 3971157
Office : 04 2064211
Dubai International Food Safety Conference
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Ismail CK
Bobby Krishna
Please do not go by what news papers write. They have no idea about
what they are writing about.
I called up the gulfnews office today to know the source of the news
and they had no clue!
Facts:
1. I spoke to the mother and the family maid during the probe and
perhaps I am the only one who has the detailed meal history.
They never had a common food in 3 days except the meal from the
restaurant. I had to believe what the mother and the maid said because
they are the only source of information.
2. The hospital never confirmed the case as food poisoning. What ever
they had said was based on clinical symptoms and not based on
laboratory data.
3. We tested the food samples that were available and not all food
samples. We found Bacillus Cereus and Staph Aureus in the food, but
not enough to cause any illness.
But, bacillus count of more than 1000 in a reheated product indicates
that the count was probably higher in the food before reheating.
4. Detecting toxins of Bacillus in food is very difficult. We just
tested what we got and not all what they ate.
5. Condition in the restaurant was not satisfactory. There were clear
evidences of temperature abuse of cooked food, including the rice used
for fried rice. Employees had food hygiene training but none of them
knew how to properly handle cooked food. They clearly stated that rice
normally is left at room temperature.
6. Police and the court insisted on closing restaurant because of
pending investigation
Speculation:
1. There were no chemicals in the body and the death was similar to
the toxic shock from bacillus toxin.
2. We referred the case studies of bacillus toxin and the progress of
illness was very similar to what we saw here.
3. If it is bacillus toxin, there is a high probability that the tests
may not detect the toxin.
ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE IS NOT EVIDENCE OF ABSENCE
In the US, out of 5000 reported deaths from food poisoning, agents are
confirmed only in less than 1500 cases...needless to say that with
less than 20% of their facilities, it is almost impossible to trace
any food poisoning.
Regards
Bobby
On Sep 3, 2:14 pm, Ismail CK <ckv...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Boby,
>
> Why do/did you people and Media stick on the Chinese restaurant as they did
> wrong, it is not a right way, I believe.
>
> The highlighted words will lead you to Sahara mall, not to Chinese
> restaurant. Since the kids and mother only sicked, I am sure there was no
> doubt at all about the source.
> Boby, I can not understand why didnt you go to Sahara mall, I belive you
> could have to make a clearcut investigation if you had done it.
>
> And there is no surprise in the lab results of the chinese rest sample.
>
> "He said what happened does not need explanation, because just like other
> normal before *going out with their mother* *to Sahara mall and having ice
> cream and doughnuts.*After they returned home, the mother ordered Chinese
> later the pain and vomiting occurred."
>
> restaurant, and they all had dinner,*
>
> Thanx
>
> Ismail
> Qatar
>
> On 9/3/09, Bobby Krishna Thulasi <BKTHUL...@dm.gov.ae> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Health/10345852.html
>
> > *Probe into death of D'souza children continues*
>
> > *Your comments*
> > Question is what about the other children that died of food poisoning in
> > the last 3 months? And with Chelsea and Nathan - was the right medicine
> > administered? I agree with the father. Now, the battle belongs to the
> > Almighty. Only He will do justice.
> > *Australia**,Australia*
>
> > I?m eagerly waiting for a positive result. While scrolling I came across to
> > realise that the children had an early morning breakfast, lunch and then had
> > gone to the mall to have an ice cream doughnuts so one can?t really say if
> > its was due to the food poison from the Chinese restaurant as from what I
> > can understand is that the children already had a couple of items to eat
> > before they could have their dinner.
> > *Dubai**,UAE*
>
> > Firstly, Its great to hear that after quite a while, Gulf News is still in
> > pursuit of this case. Its quiet rare to see a newspaper follow up on a case,
> > as once the hype has died, its forgotten forever. The father?s views on the
> > findings are not wrong. Justice needs to be served its been quite a while
> > now, and there should be an end to this matter, one cannot begin to imagine
> > what the parents must be going through not knowing what caused the death of
> > their children, and to keep them waiting further is torture, unjust, and
> > unfair. However, the concerned authorities have been great as they have
> > pulled out all stops, which go to show that Dubai Cares. Even in one?s
> > homeland one will not get such a service from the authorities, and, as an
> > expatriate, it gives one a sense of security to know that we live in a
> > country where when the need does arise, the law steps in.
> > *Dubai**,UAE*
>
>
> > *Senior Food Studies Officer &*
>
> > *Co-ordinator- Dubai International Food Safety Conference*
> > Food Control Department
>
> > Dubai Municipality
>
> > Mob : + 971 50 3971157
>
> > Office : 04 2064211
>
> > *