33 students in Occidental Mindoro in hospital for ‘food poisoning’

CITY OF CALAPAN, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines – Thirty-three students who were apparently suffering from food poisoning were taken to a hospital in Sablayan town, Occidental Mindoro province on Monday (Oct. 10) evening, according to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).

They are students at the San Francisco Elementary School, according to Hyacinth Arah Dacayanan, MDRRMO communications officer.

“Police said the food — fried spring rolls — that reportedly caused the poisoning came from outside and was brought inside the school,” Dacayanan told the Inquirer.

MDRRMO head Arcris Canillo said they received a call from Barangay San Francisco around noon after students complained of stomach aches. They were taken to San Sebastian District Hospital.

Dr. Simon Salazar, hospital chief, said a total of 97 patients were affected by the food poisoning incident. Out of these, 86 are students, six are teachers, and five are outsiders.

Sixty-four were mild cases and were sent home with instructions, and the rest — the 33 students — were admitted to the hospital.

Canillo said authorities were still investigating the incident, adding that the local government unit was assisting the students.

The Department of Education has not issued a statement.

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