Panic struck Kagisho Secondary School in Phahameng, Bloemfontein, as 214 pupils attending a Matric study camp were rushed to various healthcare facilities on Sunday afternoon due to suspected food poisoning.
According to reports, the Matric study camp was attended by approximately 355 learners over the weekend, with 214 falling ill in what has been described as a "suspected but unconfirmed food poisoning outbreak."
The Free State Departments of Health and Education confirmed that several learners began experiencing symptoms consistent with food poisoning, prompting immediate medical attention and their transport to various healthcare facilities.
The departments noted that local health authorities had been notified and that the school administration was fully cooperating with ongoing response efforts. Emergency Medical Services (EMS), both public and private, were deployed to assist with the triage and transport of affected learners.
As of Monday, the number of affected individuals had risen to 214, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Urgent medical attention was required, leading to their transport to local health facilities. Among them, 142 learners were treated at Poly Clinic, 67 at Pelonomi Casualty, and 5 at Pelonomi Netcare.
The departments stated that the Outbreak Response Team is actively monitoring the situation to determine the extent of the outbreak while implementing control measures to prevent further spread. Medical treatment has been provided to all affected individuals, and Pelonomi Pharmacy has dispatched essential medications to ensure that they receive appropriate care.
Additionally, Environmental Health Practitioners have been mobilized to investigate the cause of the incident and recommend measures to prevent future occurrences.
The departments reiterated that the response to the incident has been effectively managed by Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital, Poly Clinic, Netcare, and the collaborative efforts of government and private EMS. Currently, only eight learners remain in casualty.
"At present, only eight children remain in casualty awaiting results from blood samples taken earlier. They are receiving intravenous fluids and show no signs of serious illness," the departments stated.
Furthermore, they have been actively providing updates and urged parents to monitor their children closely, reporting any signs of illness to the nearest healthcare facility.
Last year, Premier Panyaza Lesufi reported that twenty-three people in Gauteng have died from food-borne illnesses after consuming food from spaza shops. The majority of the deceased are children between the ages of six and nine.
In response to these incidents, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged all spaza shops and food outlets to register with their municipalities as part of efforts to prevent recurring foodborne illnesses.
The Star