Mass food poisoning scare
2004-07-01 18:39
Johannesburg - About 150 children attending a schools' choral event in Randburg were hospitalised with suspected food poisoning on Thursday, but subsequently discharged.
The first group of children started complaining of nausea, dizziness, headaches, stomach cramps and shortness of breath shortly after noon, said education department spokesperson Panyaza Lesufi.
The children of all ages were taking part in the Tirisano Schools Choral Eisteddfod at the Northgate Dome entertainment and conference centre.
According to Johannesburg emergency services spokesperson Malcolm Midgley, the pupils were treated at the scene and then ferried by their buses to various private hospitals in the area.
"None of them were seriously ill. We suspect it was more a matter of mass hysteria."
He put the number of children at 151, but The Dome management said there were 146.
The Dome managing director Carol Weaving said the children suffered from mild cramps and vomiting, and were admitted to hospital for check-ups as a precautionary measure.
Independent caterer
"As of 16:00, we can report that all the pupils have been examined and discharged, and are fit to continue with today's championship."
She said an independent caterer, not linked to The Dome, was to blame for the children's woes.
The same caterer supplied dinner to three Johannesburg hotels where the children stayed on Wednesday night.
"Investigations by safety and health representatives at the venue and the event... and the environmental health department suggest that the food served last evening was to blame."
All possible steps were taken to stabilise the situation, and The Dome's own caterers were appointed to take over the feeding of the children at their respective hotels, Weaving said in a statement.
Lesufi said a team comprising officials from the departments of health and education was set up to determine the cause of the children's illness.
"The MEC (Angie Motshekga) was taken aback by the news, and has given an instruction for no stone to be left unturned to get to the bottom of this matter."
The children were all from Northern Cape schools, the eisteddfod organisers said in a statement.
- SAPA