PUTRAJAYA (BERNAMA) - The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection
Services (Maqis) has revealed that it found worms that can cause the
anisakiasis disease in humans in samples of a brand of sardines from
China brought in through the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT)
in Penang on May 14.
Maqis director-general Datuk Mokhtaruddin Husain said the worms were
discovered through physical examination and sampling conducted on
several sardine cans that arrived in two containers with an estimated
weight of 36,720kg and valued at about RM200,000 (S$67,698.62).
The containers had been detained, he said in a statement on Tuesday (June 26).
The worms were likely to be from the genus Anisakis spp, which causes
the anisakiasis disease in humans. The disease normally occurs when
humans eat seafood such as raw fish or fish that is not fully cooked and
infected with the Anisakis spp parasite, he said.
Anisakiasis is a parasitic and zoonotic disease in which the Anisakis
spp nematode (worm) carried by fish attacks the gastrointestinal
system, such as the stomach and intestines of humans, and can cause
gastrointestinal problems or symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea,
nausea and vomiting.
Mr Mokhtaruddin said the act of importing any plant, animal, carcass,
fish, agricultural product, soil or microorganism with pests, diseases
or contaminants was an offence under Section 14 of the Malaysian
Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011.
The case is being investigated for further action, he said.
Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/can-of-worms-malaysia-warns-of-disease-carrying-parasites-in-canned-sardines-from-china" rel="nofollow - https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/can-of-worms-malaysia-warns-of-disease-carrying-parasites-in-canned-sardines-from-china
[If the worms were alive, that says a lot of terrible things about the canning processes used - aren't they supposed to sterilize the contents!]