Some staff at the state-run fish cannery in Felivaru island of Laamu atoll likely suffered from food poisoning due to insecticide, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) says.

At the HPA’s request, a team from the Laamu Atoll Hospital had travelled to Felivaru island and monitored the patients on Sunday. 

The HPA said that the exposure happened at the living quarters of the cannery staff, where a mixture of insecticide had been sprayed. 

This insecticide was exposed to food items kept at the quarters, which the staff had consumed; most staff showing symptoms were those who stayed at these questers. 

The hospital says their conditions are improving, although four of them are ‘critical’.