Five treated for possible food poisoning

CEBU, Philippines – Five children allegedly suffered from food poisoning after eating shrimp paste with pork during their dinner Friday night in Lapu-Lapu City.

Renan Cimafranca, Department of Health-7 regional epidemiologist, however, said they could not conclude yet if it was indeed a case of food poisoning pending laboratory test results.

Eleodoro Mongaya, spokesperson of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, said that only four victims were confined at the hospital and two of them were already discharged.

He said that the hospital will be releasing the official medical bulletin today on the matter.

Letecia Patalinghug, center head of the Lapulapu City Homecare Center for Children, however, said that the five children were just “overfed.”

“Wa na sila na food poisoning, na overfeed ra to sila kay gipanglami-an sila sa hipon nga gisagulan og baboy kay panagsa ra mi magluto ana diri sa center,” said Patalinghug.

She said that that night, 50 children were being fed with the same food and five of them experienced vomiting which prompted them to bring the children to VSMMC.

“Nagsuka man sila tungod sa kabusog unya naluya na man sila. Mao to nga gidala namo sila sa Sotto hospital,” Patalinghug said.

She added that one of the five kids immediately went back to the center after being treated and feeling already okay while the four were admitted, two of whom were already discharged.

“Ang tulo ka mga bata kay okay na man sila, nag duwa-duwa ra nganhi. Ang duha tua pa sa hospital kay gipaabot pa ang resulta sa ilang laboratory tests,” she said.

Patalinghug further said that the center has been operating for the past six years and this is the first time they encountered such incident.

The Lapu-Lapu City Homecare Center for Children serves as a temporary shelter for kids who have trouble with the law and serves as their home while their cases in court are still pending

Last month, 2-year-old Car Jed Talingting of Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City died after eating repacked strawberry-flavored wafers mixed with biscuits reportedly shared by their neighbor identified as Gretchen Jugan.

Three of Talingting’s siblings, Claralyn, 4; Chloe, 3; and Clarence, 6; Jugan’s son Jadn Liam and a 60-year-old neighbor were hospitalized after suffering upset stomach and vomiting.

In response to the boy’s death, Radaza instructed Dr. Rodolfo Berame of the City Health Office to inspect repacked goods sold at the city’s public market. —/RHM (FREEMAN)