Published on: May 15, 2023
By Marcelo Pedalino
MAASIN CITY (PIA) -- Health officials from the City Health Unit (CHU) here and the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU), as well as concerned school heads of Saint Joseph College, a private school, are closely working together to investigate the origin and cause of an alleged case of food poisoning.
The joint effort came to light following a statement posted in SJC’s social media page on May 11, about a “mass gastroenteritis incident that happened to our students after the Criminology Interns Ball.”
The Crisis Management Team was immediately convened to look into the welfare of students, in which more than 30 individuals were admitted in various hospitals in the province and in a neighboring towns in Leyte province, SJC said in a post.
“All other symptomatic students who need not be admitted are closely monitored by the school medical personnel,” SJC said, calling the incident “very unfortunate.”
Meanwhile, City Mayor Nacional Mercado, who was still in the US for a Visiting Leadership Program (VLP) sponsored by the American government, also posted a statement on his social media page on the same day SJC’s post on the matter came out.
“The City Government had asked the school to assure all parent and families that all precautionary measures are being taken to ensure the health and safety of all students,” Mercado pointed out.
The catering service in both statements was not named, obviously pending results of the ongoing probe, especially on what particular food source was found out contaminated, and what possible sanction, if ever. (MMP/PIA Southern Leyte)
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