The victims were brought to a hospital in Minglanilla town who complained of abdominal pains after eating fruit salad. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY GREG MAGDADARO)
At least 33 persons were brought to a hospital in Minglanilla town, southern Cebu after they complained of abdominal pains, vomiting and fever shortly after eating fruit salad served in the house of a village watchman in Naga City, Cebu.
Councilor Carmelino Cruz Jr. of Naga City said some of the victims were brought to the Minglanilla District Hospital about 11 a.m. on Sunday but most were brought in in the evening.
Dr. Andres Gestopa of the Minglanilla District Hospital said 11 of the patients were discharged on Monday morning while the rest of the 22 were still under observation in the hospital.
He said they reported the matter to the Department of Health and had taken samples of the fruit samples for laboratory examination to determine if this was a case of food poisoning.
Cruz, chair of the Naga City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said the victims are residents of the neighboring Barangay Tangke who attended a fiesta celebration in Sitio Kapanang, Barangay Naalad in Naga City, about 21.7 km south of here, on Saturday night.
They were served fruit salad while in the house of a barangay tanod.
“They started vomiting and their stomachs hurt. Some had fever,” said Cruz.
Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong said he ordered Cruz to send medicines and dextrose to the Minglanilla District Hospital for the victims’ use.
He also sent P20,000 in cash for their other needs.