33 hospitalized after eating fruit salad at Cebu fiesta

CEBU CITY–At least 33 persons were hospitalized in Minglanilla town, southern Cebu, complaining of abdominal pains, vomiting and fever after eating fruit salad served in the house of a village watchman in Naga City, Cebu.

Councilor Carmelino Cruz Jr. of Naga City said some victims were brought to the Minglanilla District Hospital about 11 a.m. on Sunday but most were brought in in the evening.

Dr. Andres Gestopa of the hospital said 11  patients were discharged on Monday morning while the rest were still under observation.

He said they reported the matter to the Department of Health and had taken samples of the fruit for laboratory examination to determine if this was a case of food poisoning.

Cruz, chair of the Naga City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said the victims are residents of the neighboring Barangay Tangke who attended a fiesta celebration in Sitio Kapanang, Barangay Naalad in Naga City, 21.7 km south of here, on Saturday night.

They were served fruit salad while in the house of a barangay tanod.

“They started vomiting and their stomachs hurt. Some had fever,” said Cruz.

Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong said he ordered Cruz to send medicines and dextrose to the hospital. He also sent P20,000 in cash for the victims’ other needs. JE/rga

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