200 hospitalized due to food poisoning

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – At least 200 people were hospitalized after eating food served during a village fiesta in Medina, Misamis Oriental yesterday.

Vice Mayor Kimboy Ochegue said the food poisoning occurred during a fiesta celebration in Barangay San Vicente.

Ochegue said the victims, who were participants in a parade, were given food consisting of rice noodles, beef and pork, packed in cellophane bags for lunch.

The victims reportedly suffered stomach pains, dizziness and vomiting after eating.

 The victims were brought to hospitals in Medina and in the nearby town of Balingasag and in Gingoog City.

Ochegue said many of the victims were children as classes were suspended for the fiesta.

The vice mayor and several municipal councilors attended the fiesta celebration.

The mayor was out of town on official business.

Ochegue said some of the victims were released from the hospitals Monday night, but many were confined for further observation.

Provincial board member Bebeng Dumadag said it was the first time that such an incident happened in San Vicente.

Police Officer 3 Servando Virtudazo of the municipal police, however, said the number of victims was only 113 as of noon yesterday.

Lenie Rodriguez, coordinator of a Misamis Oriental health program, said the poisoning might have been caused by the beef since the provincial government had just implemented a livestock immunization program.

Rodriguez said the provincial government would investigate the incident.

Earlier, Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente  Emano said in a press statement that the provincial government would shoulder the hospital expenses of the victims.