Noodles down 29 in Ligao City birthday party

LIGAO CITY – At least 29 persons from this city were rushed to a hospital before 7 a.m. today due to suspected food poisoning when they attended a birthday party on Monday.

Dr. Nathaniel Rempillo, Albay provincial health officer, said the victims could have eaten spoiled noodles used for “pancit malabon” that was served in a birthday party in Barangay (village) Tuburan here late afternoon of Monday.

Most of the victims complained of vomiting, dizziness and diarrhea overnight before they were brought to the Josefina Belmonte Duran Memorial District Hospital starting early this morning, he said.

All of the patients were all recovering after receiving treatment, Rempillo said in a phone interview.

Dr. Wynns Samar, Ligao city health officer, said in a separate interview that the pancit malabon was bought by the family of the birthday celebrant from a store in this city. The store only sold pancit malabon, he said.

Samar said they collected the remaining noodles, which were brought to the Department of Health (DOH) regional office in Legazpi City for examination.

The Ligao city health office ordered the temporary closure of the store in Barangay Calzada probed the incident, Samar said.