Fifty-nine Jiyani learners fell ill after eating meals and snacks provided by the primary school's nutrition program and were taken to hospital. (Limpopo Health Department)
According to the Limpopo Provincial Education Department, 59 learners in Ziyani were taken to hospital after falling ill after eating meals and snacks provided through the primary school's nutrition program.
In a statement, it said the children at Zumeli Elementary School were rushed to a local hospital after they “began vomiting and another child complained of stomach cramps”. The school also transported all students who came into contact with the symptomatic student to the hospital as a precautionary measure.
“The learners were given porridge and milk in their school nutrition programme, but preliminary reports indicate they were also eating fatty cakes and sweets,” the ministry said. He added that his condition was stable and that inspectors would “immediately launch an investigation to establish the matter.” the cause of their illness.”
This is the latest in a growing number of foodborne illness cases, primarily affecting children, reported in townships in the Free State, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Limpopo in recent weeks. It is.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said at a press conference over the weekend that there have been 441 food contamination incidents in the province since January, resulting in 23 deaths.
He said seven post-mortem tests had come back positive for organophosphates, the chemicals responsible for the deaths of six children in Naledi, Soweto province, in early October.
The children, all under the age of 10, are believed to have died after eating potato chips purchased at a local spaza shop, although a forensic examination showed no direct link to the outlet.
Earlier this month, a child died after eating potato chips in Alexandra.
The health department has not yet released the results of tests conducted at the spaza restaurant in October. Spokesperson Foster Mohel said results would be available “by the end of this week.”
