13-9-2023 (BANGKOK) An unsuspecting bus conductor in Bangkok, Thailand, had a harrowing experience when the smell of durian on her bus caused her to faint due to an allergic reaction.
Kussama Srisong shared her ordeal in a Facebook post last Saturday (Sept 9), revealing that the pungent aroma of the so-called king of fruits triggered chest tightness and shortness of breath, ultimately leading to her fainting.
As a result of her condition, the bus had to be halted, resulting in a delay for passengers. In her Facebook post, Srisong shared a picture of herself lying across bus seats, being attended to by two others. She conveyed a message to passengers: “For passengers who bring durians onto the bus, when something happens it doesn’t mean only you are delayed. Other people also have to go back home late because of my durian allergies.”
Srisong expressed her gratitude to “sister Lek” and “sister A” for taking her to the hospital, along with her appreciation for the passengers and her boss who assisted her.
Speaking to Thai news publication Thairath, Srisong mentioned that she is feeling better now but still experiences bouts of dizziness.
In cases where a passenger brings a durian fruit onto the bus, Srisong explained that they are required to leave immediately. However, the lingering smell of the fruit can persist inside the vehicle, as was the case in this incident.
Furthermore, Srisong emphasized that bus regulations prohibit passengers from bringing objects with strong odors on board.
She advised passengers, “If you want to eat it, buy it near your house so there won’t be any problems.”
Durian Allergy Cases in Singapore While there aren’t many reported cases of durian allergies in Singapore, Dr. Benjamin Loh, a resident doctor at DTAP Clinic Bencoolen, noted that there have been a few suspected cases during the durian season. He also mentioned that it is possible to develop an allergy to durians later in life based on research literature.
Dietitian and founder of Aptima Nutrition & Sports Consultants, Jaclyn Reutens, suggested that the sulphur content in durian could be a potential allergen, as some individuals are allergic to sulphur.
