ILOILO CITY – One student died while several others were hospitalized due to food poisoning in Ajuy town in Iloilo province on Friday, Nov. 4.
Mayor Jett Rojas confirmed to the Manila Bulletin in a phone interview on Sunday, Nov. 6, the news on the death of a student and several others who were hospitalized allegedly after drinking spoiled buko juice during a school party on Friday, Nov. 4.
“We can now confirm this is food poisoning,” said Mayor Rojas in an interview with the Manila Bulletin.
Rojas said that a 17-year-old student of Pili National High School died Sunday morning.
The parents of the Grade 9 student took her to Sara District Hospital in neighboring Sara town on Saturday, Nov. 5, for checkup.
But against the doctor's advice, the student did not want to be admitted and went home.
However, her situation worsened Sunday morning. While en route to the hospital again, she died and was declared dead on arrival.
Rojas said that 15 students are admitted to hospitals while two other teachers are showing symptoms.
According to Rojas, the students already had the symptoms as early as Saturday, but did not think of anything serious and did not tell their parents.
It was only on Sunday afternoon that many of the parents decided to bring their children to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Rojas assured that ambulances are on standby to bring other students to the hospital for medical treatment.