Zilch, nada – no such case at all.
- No patient admitted to the hospital with such a case
- No case nor death notification received by authorities involving any disease or food poisoning caused by use of banana leaf
- No case involving suspicion of being infected with Nipah virus
The Health Ministry today said a viral message on social media alleging a death at a local private hospital after a woman had purportedly consumed food wrapped in banana leaf infected with the Nipah virus is not true.
According to Selangor health director Datuk Dr Khalid Ibrahim, the ministry has conducted an investigation based on the message and found that there was no patient admitted to the hospital with such a case.
There was no case nor death notification received by the district health offices, the state health department or the ministry involving any disease or incidence of food poisoning suspected to be caused by the use of banana leaf or a case suspected being infected with the Nipah virus, Khalid said in a statement.
The WhatsApp message stated that a woman had experienced breathing difficulties and subsequently died after consuming a meal wrapped in banana leaf that had the virus.
Khalid urged the public not to believe news and messages that were not verified.
He said it would be best for them to get confirmation from the ministry before passing on incorrect information.