At least 49 Ma-ao Elementary School students, along with their parents, were hospitalized after falling ill earlier this week in what authorities believe may be a case of food poisoning. Based on information provided by the Bago City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, the victims were attending a Christmas party and ate spaghetti that was prepared by a local catering service.
After eating, the Grade 1 students and some of their parents reportedly began feeling ill, complaining of stomach aches and nausea. The victims were initially rushed to the Barangay Ma-ao Clinic but were later transferred to the Bago City District Hospital to receive further medical attention.
As of yesterday, 20 students remain hospitalized.
In a radio interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod, one of the victims, 57-year-old Tessie Cubos, said she ate spaghetti that her grandchild refused to eat. She claimed, after three spoonfuls, which she said tasted sour, she soon began experiencing stomach pains and vomiting.
The Bago City Health Office has since been tasked with investigating the catering service.
Last year, a group of 42 students from San Dionisio, Iloilo, who were in Dumangas, Iloilo for a Department of Education program, were rushed to the hospital after coming down with food poisoning.
According to reports, the students were said to have experienced “intense stomach aches” after eating lunch at Dumangas National High School./DGB, WDJ