MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is looking into reports that an elementary student died and seven others were hospitalized in Surigao del Norte after taking deworming tablets.
The students reportedly experienced temporary loss of sight and stomach pain.
DOH Undersecretary Eric Domingo said the deworming program in the province was suspended pending the results of the investigation.
“The patients manifested similar symptoms... We are trying to check for any contaminant or toxic substance,” he said.
In the Cordilleras, Amelita Pangilinan, DOH regional officer-in-charge, ordered the testing of samples of deworming tablets distributed to public schools in Baguio City.
Rowena Galpo, Baguio health department chief, said only 50 percent of the 75,000 deworming tablets released by the DOH were distributed due to reported discoloration of the medicine. – Artemio Dumlao