Phuket health officials pay surprise visit to Laguna

CHERNG TALAY, PHUKET: The Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO) yesterday morning conducted a surprise inspection tour of the Laguna Phuket resort complex, which will host the upcoming 42^nd Asean Foreign Ministers Meetings.

The inspection was to ensure that water supplies, food preparation areas and hotel staff are free of disease-causing microbes during the proceedings to be held July 17 to 23, with the center of activities at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket.

Kitchen staff and other hotel workers at the Sheraton were busy preparing for a large wedding when the health officials arrived unannounced carrying water sample collection vials, latex gloves and a variety of other sampling equipment.

Health office workers split into six teams of around 10 persons to conduct sampling at the six resorts in the Laguna complex, in addition to other venues that will play a role in hosting the event or accommodating guests.

These include the Trisara Resort in Cherng Talay and Phuket FantaSea in Kamala, which will host a gala dinner at the end of meetings.

Public health officer Julai Sakunphuak said the inspection was part of the PPHO’s efforts to make sure delegates are not exposed to common bacterial pathogens including coliform bacteria, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and strains of salmonella found in seafood.

Random samples were collected from water supplies, food and the hands of kitchen workers and guest contact staff.

The samples were sent for analysis to the nearby Phuket Medical Science Center, where results should be known by today.

Ms Julai said the results will not be made public but will be shared with the host venues as a way of ensuring that any potential problems are addressed in advance of the meetings.

— Tipwarintron Tanaakarachod