Food poisoning sickens 1,000 school children in S. Africa
Xinhua, October 28, 2016 Adjust font size:
About 1,000 school children have been treated after appearing to have been sickened by food poisoning in Eastern Cape Province since Monday, health authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The children from one high school and six primary schools under the district of King William's Town fell ill after having sour milk, the Eastern Cape Health Department said.
Their symptoms included vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea, according to the department.
Some of the children have been seen by doctors and have been discharged, department spokesperson Siyanda Manana said.
He told the City Press newspaper that the situation started on Monday when both the Bhisho and Grey hospitals were inundated with young patients from the schools complaining of stomachache and vomiting.
He said doctors and nurses were working around the clock to manage the situation, and more nurses would be sent from nearby nursing homes if the need arose.
There were no fatalities reported by Thursday afternoon as pupils continued to be treated.
In March last year, hundreds of primary school learners in Limpopo Province were hospitalized after being poisoned. In September 2014, also in Limpopo, almost 300 learners were hospitalized after glass was found in their food, followed by more similar cases in October. Enditem