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A Facebook picture of Miguela Secolles, who worked for an American-Korean family in Aberdeen for five months.

Philippines consulate to give financial aid for family of dead woman in Hong Kong food scare

Domestic helper Miguela Secolles, 42, died a week after eating at American-style diner Dan Ryan’s; migrants’ group mulls civil suit against parties to be blamed

Financial support will be offered by government agencies in the Philippines to the family of Miguela Secolles, the domestic helper who died a week after eating a Dan Ryan’s Thanksgiving meal.

The 42-year-old leaves behind three children at home, according to friends.

Secolles was found dead in bed by her employer last Thursday – exactly seven days after she sat down to a traditional turkey meal at the American-style diner in Harbour City, and three days after she was discharged from hospital following treatment for chronic diarrhoea and vomiting.

The Health Department said 50 people suffered from food poisoning in the same incident.

Vice-consul Alex Vallespin from the Philippines Consulate said it was providing assistance to the family. “We are aware of this case ... our government, our agency in Manila, will provide financial [aid] to the family and the repatriation is first and foremost the obligation of the employer,” he said.

The Philippine national who had worked for an American-Korean family in Aberdeen for five months, had eaten a turkey meal at the diner with her employer and four children on November 24. Of the party of six, five members including Secolles fell ill the next day.

The group went to Queen Mary Hospital on November 27 with symptoms of food poisoning. Secolles was the only one to be hospitalised.

She died on December 1, three days after being discharged.

The Hospital Authority said: “It’s inappropriate to comment at this stage because [the case] is under investigation by the coroner.”

Health officials said no new cases of food poisoning have emerged.

Secolles and eight other patients tested positive for salmonella – which is associated with gastroenteritis – in the latest batch of stool samples.

Secolles was a regular attendee at the 1,200-member Methodist International Church in Wan Chai, and a popular participant of the choir.

Friends, church members and representatives from the domestic helper community will gather at Victoria Public Mortuary in Kennedy Town next Monday at 3pm to hold a short memorial service. Her body will be repatriated to the Philippines later the same day.

The Asian Migrants Coordinating Body raised the possibility of launching a civil case against anyone responsible for her death if blame is apportioned – from the restaurant and hospital to the employer.

“After a careful study of her cause of death, we would help in the possibility of filing claims for damages,” spokesman Eman Villanueva said.

Friends paid tribute to Secolles on Facebook. “It’s hard to accept such, but God is in control of everything. Miguela we love you,” one user wrote.

The outbreak of food poisoning at Dan Ryan’s is one of the city’s worst cases since 2014 when 93 children at a Kwai Chung school fell sick after a school lunch.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Manila offers to assist family of helper
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