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[File Image] School children having lunch.
The Eastern Cape’s District Environmental Health Unit has been roped in to investigate an incident where two children have died in a suspected food poisoning incident in the province.
It happened at Msintsi Location outside KuGompo, formerly East London, on Friday.
The children were declared deceased on arrival at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane.
They were among seven children, aged between four and seven, who presented symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness.
Four of them are still being treated at the health facility, while one has been transferred to Frere Hospital for advanced medical care.
“Preliminary information from families indicates that six of the children from Msintsi had been playing together and consumed snacks prior to becoming ill. The circumstances relating to one child from NU3 are still being established. The exact cause of the suspected food poisoning has not yet been confirmed. The department immediately activated its emergency and outbreak response protocols. The District Environmental Health Unit has been deployed to investigate the source of the illness. The department extends its deepest condolences to the affected families and continues to provide clinical and psychosocial support. Further updates will be communicated as more information becomes available,” says Provincial Health spokesperson Camagwini Mavovana.
VIDEO | Mavovana says the medical team at the hospital tried to resuscitate the two children but were not successful:
