STAY AWAY FROM THIS ITCH INDUCING WEED

In the news recently is a killer weed called Parthenium hysterophorus or congress grass. This weed which looks like the Ulam Raja was transported to Malaysia via imported livestock. The public has been advised to not touch or be exposed to carrot weed, scientifically known as ‘parthenium hysterophorus’, because it can cause allergy, especially to children and elderly people.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said pollen from the weed contained chemicals known as parthenin, hymenin and ambrosin which could be harmful to health.

“However, not everybody who is exposed to it may get allergic reaction. Some people have the allergy symptoms when exposed to it continuously and repeatedly.

“The symptoms of allergy reaction include skin rash, skin peeling, itching of the skin, swelling of the eyes, allergic rhinitis and disruption to the respiratory system, like cold and asthma,” he said in a statement here today.
-See more at: 

http://news.asiaone.com/news/malaysia/killer-weed-cases-mushrooming#sthash.Rcb2KHCu.dpuf

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/12/10/dont-touch-carrot-weed-public-advised/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenium_hysterophorus