Pupils hit by ‘toxic’ gum leave hospital; did not attend classes

SAN CARLOS CITY-–Classes at the Guelew Integrated School in Barangay Guelew here resumed on Friday, although many students downed by bad chewing gum a day earlier were absent, according to a school official.

Except for one student, all 62 students admitted at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) had been discharged, said Augusto Cayabyab, school principal.

“Many are absent today. Maybe they are still resting. Besides, it’s already Friday so they may have decided to just come to school on Monday (July 6) instead,” said Cayabyab.

Dr. Edwin Guinto, city health officer, said 117 pupils were taken to hospitals here on Thursday for suspected food poisoning after they took fruit-flavored chewing gum.

Aside from the 62 pupils, 49 others were treated at the PPH’s outpatient department and six more were treated at private hospitals here.

Guinto said the remaining pupil now under PPH care was a Grade 4 pupil, who was discharged on Thursday night but was readmitted at the hospital on Friday when he complained of dizziness.

“We advised them to come back if they still feel something [bad],” said Dr. Policarpio Manuel, PPH director.

Cayabyab said the victims bought the gum from two stores in front of the school.

“As a policy, we close our school gates after the flag ceremony and no one is allowed to go out. We have a guard,” said Cayabyab, indicating that the children bought the items before classes began. Reports from Gabriel Cardinoza and Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon