Pigtail for lunch! It was heavy on the mind of Orange Walk resident, Claudine August on Wednesday. So when she headed out to her local grocer, New Hong Fua at nine that morning and purchased a pound and a half of pigtail, little did she know that the $6.00 worth of pork meat would land her in the hospital only a few hours later.
We went north to hear her story of salmonella poisoning by pigtail, but also the other side of the story from the store-owner:
Jim McFadzean Reporting:
August said she started to come down with the familiar symptoms of food poisoning shortly after she ate the pigtail at around 11 that morning, and reported her suspicions to the Orange Walk Public Health department. The Department responded to the complaint of possible tainted pork meat that same day and closed the store temporarily while they carried out their investigation.
Claudine August - Ate Suspected Tainted Pigtail
"When I spoke to Mr. McGregor - because he was the one that came and saw it - he said that the pigtail was spoilt, right. So I started explaining to him my symptoms, and he said that it could have been the first stage of food poison. To determine what it was, we had to go to the doctor, do the blood test and everything else."
August says her condition worsened during the course of the day and had to be admitted for treatment and overnight observation at her physician's private clinic. According to August's private physician, Dr. Elda Mercedes Rico she was exposed to Salmonella.
Jim McFadzean
"How did you determine that Miss August was infected with salmonella?"
Dr. Elda Rico - Medical Practitioner, Northern Regional Hospital
"She has reacted to the Widal Test. It's specific to different kinds of salmonella."
Salmonella is a type of bacteria usually found in poultry, eggs, unprocessed milk and in meats. And while there is an important public health angle to this story, the 'meatier' part is what transpired after August was treated and released. The store never accepted that they were selling tainted meat but did make a verbal agreement with August. Store owner, Ko-Kao-Chen, agreed to pay for her medical bills. But that promise went through the door when Chen's daughter explained that the exorbitant bills they received left plenty of doubt as to the veracity of August's claim.
Store Owner's Daughter - New Hong Fua Supermarket
"I need to tell the doctor, if this lady had a problem, now you see that she doesn't have a problem, right? But now, he charged me too much. I don't know, is this woman a VIP or something? Nobody knows this girl - the hospital - the name. This is a small hospital; they can't charge me $2,200 for 4 hours. I need to ask these people why they charged me so much. You say 100, 200, I'd believe."
Jim McFadzean
"So if the bill was smaller, you would have paid it?"
Store Owner's Daughter - New Hong Fua Supermarket
"If the bill was smaller - was correct, I wouldn't have a problem. They are telling too much lies."
Jim McFadzean
"The concern by the merchant is that there was no need for you to go to a private hospital, and stay in a VIP room."
Claudine August
"Well, Jim, they will not tell me what I can and cannot do. I am sick; they contributed to the reason why I went to a hospital. I went to a doctor because, you know, that's a doctor that I feel that is qualified enough and will give me a - will be impartial. They can't tell me to go to any regular - I'm not a dog - I'm not an animal, I'm a human being. You will dictate to me, 'Oh, if it was a $100, you would have paid the bill?' No way!"
Jim McFadzean
"Are you able to determine from the test that you took, that the salmonella infection was as a result of the pigtail that she bought?"
Dr. Elda Rico
"This is cause-and-effect. She ate the pigtail at 11 in the morning, and 3 hours later, she started having the symptoms and the signs."
We have been trying since yesterday to get a comment from the Ministry of Health. Today at the Public Health Office in Orange Walk, we were told that the Officer, responsible for investigating the August incident, Mr. McGregor, is in Corozal today.
Jim McFadzean
"Is there any doubt in your mind that it's possible that something else could have caused this infection?"
Dr. Elda Rico
"There are many factors and the meat is the principal cause of salmonellosis, when the meat is contaminated. I repeat again: chicken, pork, egg, and red meat."
And because of the age old bureaucracy that exists in this country, we don't know yet when the Public Health office in Orange Walk will come out with its final report on this case.
Last we heard the Public Health Department was consulting with the Director of Health services - the second most senior office in the health bureaucracy.
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