Eight more pupils from the Eastern Cape have been admitted to the hospital after an alleged food-borne disease.
The pupils from Mgxotyeni Primary School near Debe Nek in Qonce (formerly King William’s Town) were admitted to SS Dida Hospital for treatment on Wednesday.
According to the department of health in the province, the pupils presented with symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting, and were complaining about severe headaches.
Health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said they felt sick after they consumed snacks brought from a spaza shop in the area.
Department remains on high alert
Kupelo added that the department remains on high alert.
“They all confirmed that they only felt sick after they ate chips and biscuits which they bought from a spaza shop allegedly owned by a foreign national,” said Kupelo.
“At this stage, it is suspected that the pupils suffered from a food-borne disease, but they have since been kept under surveillance and are in a stable condition.”
The incident comes after about 120 pupils from the same province were admitted to Frontier Hospital in Komani (formerly Queenstown) last week.
The department said they were called for 34 pupils aged between eight and 15 last week after they complained about abdominal pains, nausea and vomiting.
A few hours later, the crews from the emergency medical services were called to attend and transport to the hospital more pupils from another school in the same area after they complained of shortness of breath.
In all, 120 pupils presented with signs of itchiness, shortness of breath, high temperature and other vital signs.
Kupelo confirmed that there have been no fatalities and tests are yet to confirm the cause of the sickness.
In October, two children lost their lives after they allegedly shared crisps bought from a taxi rank in Bekkersdal, 14km south of Randfontein in Johannesburg.
The children were declared dead upon arrival at Mandela Clinic. Postmortem results later showed that a rat poison was detected on one of the children.
