131 learners discharged after eating tinned fish at Eastern Cape School, 30 more hospitalised
At least 30 learners from Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Ngqeleni have been hospitalised following a suspected case of food poisoning linked to a school meal of rice and tinned fish
Image: File
The Eastern Cape Department of Health has confirmed that 30 more learners from Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Ngqeleni have been admitted to hospital after eating rice and tin fish, adding that 131 learners who were admitted yesterday have been discharged.
On Wednesday, IOL News reported that approximately 70 learners had initially been hospitalised.
The department later updated the figure to 131 by Wednesday evening.
In a media statement, department spokesperson Siyanda Manana said the province’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to the incident at the school earlier that day.
“About 70 schoolchildren were transported to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha Regional Hospital, and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre,” said Manana.
He said ambulances and a helicopter were dispatched to assist the affected learners.
“Some of the learners were on intravenous drips, and those in serious condition were airlifted to the hospital,” he added.
Speaking with IOL News, Manana said the learners had eaten rice and tinned fish provided by the school during break time.
“The children were showing symptoms of vomiting, dizziness, nausea, and abdominal pains; some also had fevers, when emergency services went to fetch them,” he said.
He confirmed that all the learners hospitalised on Wednesday have been discharged.
However, he added that more learners were taken to the hospital on Thursday morning as part of the same incident.
“Currently, there are 30 learners from the same school who were brought in to Mthatha Regional Hospital this morning,” Manana said.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
IOL News