Over 100 students of Pio del Pilar Elementary School in Makati City were food poisoned by snacks they bought from their school cafeteria during recess, GMA News reports.
Makati City health department chief Dr. Bernard Sese said the children ate biscuits, wafers and other snacks.
At first, only seven students, aged 9 to 13, started complaining of stomachaches, vomiting, and nausea at their school clinic at about 10:30 a.m.
They were soon followed by many other students, until complainants reached over a hundred.
Of these victims, 44 were rushed to the nearby Ospital ng Makati for treatments, while 64 were rushed to Palanan Health Center.
They were given oral dehydration solutions.
A total of 127 students received treatment. Most of the food poisoned students have been discharged.
Two remain hooked on intravenous bags to replenish fluids lost due to intense vomiting as of Thursday, January 14.
Ospital ng Makati’s Dr. Jeremy Cordero told 24 Oras that they had already pinpointed what caused the mass food poisoning.
“All the patients who are presenting these symptoms seem to have eaten the same thing. Some of them has signs of dehydration, not so severe.”
The hospitals will be investigating the school cafeteria and analyzing the students’ stomach and vomit contents to determine what specific food caused the poisoning.
Watch the full report here.
READ: Cassava poisoning kills 6-year-old boy; siblings hospitalized
It’s so important to make sure are kids are safe from ingesting anything that makes them sick. Of course, we can’t monitor what our kids are eating 24/7.
You can try to instil healthy eating habits in them while they’re young by giving them baon such as fruit sticks and non-sugary crackers.
Get creative as well to make meal times fun even if they’re in school.
READ: Life hacks for parents: Tips for your kid’s baon
(photo above is merely a representation)
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