The number of pupils and teachers suffering food poisoning at a
primary school in southern Chinese city of Guangzhou has risen to
237 with 10 pupils still in hospital, local health authorities said
Saturday.
The 10 hospitalized were in a stable condition, a spokesman with
the Guangzhou Municipal Health Bureau said.
The poisoning occurred on Wednesday when pupils and teachers
from the Primary School attached to Zhongshan University in
Guangzhou, Guangdong Province began to suffer fever, abdominal
pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea after taking mid-morning
snacks.
Two teachers and 50 pupils aged between 6 and 12 were stricken
on Wednesday and the number increased later.
Except the 10 pupils being treated in hospital, the rest have
recovered, and no new cases were reported on Saturday, the
spokesman said.
Investigation shows that the food poisoning was caused by
bacteria-contaminated soya milk and red bean cakes that the
sufferers consumed.
The food, supplied by Guangzhou Hongyi Food Co. Ltd., was found
to have been contaminated with enterotoxin, a toxin produced by
bacteria, which caused the vomiting and diarrhea.
The company has been ordered to stop production, according to
the spokesman.
Local government held a special conference on Saturday, calling
for strengthening food safety supervision on campus, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2006)