ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A total of 58 athletes and two coaches taking part in the 3rd Congressional District Sports Association Meet in Lambunao, Iloilo were rushed to the hospital Thursday night due to suspected food poisoning.
Lambunao Mayor Jason Gonzalez confirmed in an interview that four of these students who were taken to Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial District on Thursday night were confined overnight but were already discharged from the hospital Friday morning.
The mayor said the victims, from the Janiuay town contingent, experienced stomachache after dinner at Lambunao National High School on Thursday. The athletes billeted at the school.
He said that the fish fillet served in a buffet is suspected to be the culprit.
Representatives from the regional office of the Department of Health and the emergency response team of the Provincial Health Office visited the area Friday morning to conduct investigation.
Gonzales said they are supposed to bring samples of the frozen food which the victims ate to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). However, the department is only available to do the test from Monday to Wednesday.
He said that the team has decided to go back on Monday to get samples of frozen food and forward it to DOST.
The Regional Health Unit of the town also forwarded samples of water served to the athletes to the laboratory in Central Philippine University in this city for testing.
The 3rd Congressional District Sports Association Meet, which started November 15 was joined by athletes from the towns of Badiangan, Bingawan, Cabatuan, Calinog, Janiuay, Lambunao, Mina, Maasin and Pototan.
The sports meet is to end today Saturday.-Cindy Ferrer/PNA
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