A student died while 40 others were hospitalized due to food poisoning in the town of Ajuy, Iloilo.
The fatality was identified as Ricky Ann Angel Bacacao, 17, of Barangay Malayu-an, Ajuy. She died on Sunday morning, Nov. 6.
Based on data from the municipal government, 21 were taken to Sara District Hospital in Sara town, nine to Gov. Niel D. Tupas Sr. District Hospital in Barotac Viejo town and 10 to Ajuy’s Rural Health Unit (RHU).
Dr. Sarrie Masongsong, RHU head, said majority or 37 of the victims were Grade 11 students and three were teachers of Pili National High School.
There were also students who experienced symptoms of food poisoning but they opted to stay at home, she added.
According to the victims, they had a “boodle fight” (military style of eating) and drank buko pandan juice during their United Nations celebration on Friday, Nov. 4.
After the activitiy, they complained of stomach ache, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon said a team from the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit has been deployed to Ajuy and Barotac Viejo to determine the cause of the food poisoning.
“Indi pa kita sure kon buko juice gid man kay nagboodle fight so amo na nga ma conduct kita investigation para ma determine,” she told reporters.IMT
Photo by DYRI RMN-Iloilo
