ILOILO CITY -- The food poisoning that killed one and affected 40 others in Ajuy town, Iloilo province has been traced to contaminated ice water.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, chief of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) made the disclosure based on the result of their investigation.
A Grade 11 student died from drinking contaminated buko pandan juice during a school party last November 4. At least 40 students and teachers of Pili National High School were also affected by the contamination.
It was learned that a student prepared a buko pandan juice and mixed it with ice water purchased from a nearby sari-sari store.
“From the four sources of what was made into ice water, two of the sources tested positive for e-coli bacteria while the other two for coliform bacteria,” said Quiñon on Friday, Nov. 11.
Quiñon said it is up to the local government unit (LGU) of Ajuy, especially the Municipal Health Office, on what measures it will take to avoid similar incidents in the future.
As of Friday, three victims are still being treated in hospital.
Mayor Jett Rojas earlier told Manila Bulletin that Ajuy LGU will shoulder all the medical expenses of students and teachers who fell victims of food poisoning.