Kids of Zhoukou Experimental Kindergarten play with each others during break time in Zhoukou city, central China's Henan Province, on June 22, 2009. A total of 214 children showed symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and identified as bacterial food poisoning. They were immediately sent to a nearby hospital, and most of them were recovered and discharged from the hospital. The Kindergarten resumed classes on Monday. [Xinhua]

Health authorities said 61 children in central China's Henan Province were still being treated or observed at a hospital on Monday afternoon, following an apparent case of bacterial food poisoning at the Zhoukou Experimental Kindergarten.

The children ate noodles, porridge and yogurt on Friday.

As of 3:00 PM, 21 students were being treated and 40 were being observed in the Zhoukou Central Hospital in Zhoukou City, doctors told Xinhua.

All were in stable condition, and the lab result was due in four days, said Zhou Yong, a spokesman with the provincial public health bureau.

Initial investigation showed that the children were sickened by bacterial food poisoning.

"My child is better now. He had a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius and his arms and legs were twitching," said Liang Jing, the mother of a 4-year-old boy named Zhu Zijun.

Another mother was worried about her 5-year-old son, Zhao Xiaoliang. "My son had serious diarrhea," said Ma Lanrong, massaging his abdomen.

The incident took place in the Zhoukou Experimental Kindergarten, the largest kindergarten in Zhoukou, when 768 children had lunch on Friday.

A total of 214 children and three teachers showed symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and breaking out in a cold sweat.

They were immediately sent to a nearby hospital, and most recovered and were discharged. The cause of the food poisoning is being investigated, said Zhou.

The kindergarten, with a staff of 86, has 836 students.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2009)