Buko (coconut) juice served at a school Christmas party claimed the life of a five-year-old girl and downed 26 others, including 19 children, in Calatrava town, Negros Occidental, the Provincial Health Office reported Mon, Dec 21.
Provincial Health Officer Ernell Tumimbang said the victims drank the juice during the Grade 2 class party of Dolis Elementary School on Dec 16.
One of female pupils brought the juice home and gave it to her younger sister, who died at their house in Barangay Maaslob, two days after the party.
Tumimbang said the girl had fever and vomited, but her parents did not bring her to a doctor.
Also on Fri, Dec 18, the other victims, mostly aged seven to eight, were hospitalized after they suffered dehydration, stomach pain, and high fever.
The children were also vomiting and defecating, Tumimbang said.
Twenty patients were treated at Calatrava District Hospital while six others were brought to San Carlos City Hospital.
Tumimbang said the patients were given fluids, electrolytes, and antibiotics after laboratory results showed that they had bacterial infection.
According to a report of Calatrava Municipal Health Office, the buko juice, which had coconut meat, condensed milk, and brown sugar, was prepared at 9am but was not chilled when it was served at lunch.
The preparation of the buko juice was unsanitary since the two food handlers did not wash their hands, the report added.
Tumimbang said the patients are still confined since they continue to feel abdominal pain.
Text: Philippine News Agency
