46 hospitalized due to food poisoning

By ERNAN BALDOMERO

SAN JOSE, Antique – Forty-six persons fell ill and were rushed to hospitals in Antique and Iloilo after eating at a birthday and baptismal party in Culasi town.

Thirty-four were taken to the Culasi District Hospital. The others were confined in the hospitals of Libertad, Bugasong and San Jose, and in Iloilo City.

Elvira Casimero, mother of three kids who were hospitalized, said neighbor Chloe and Henry Urbina threw a party in Brgy. Condez, Culasi on Saturday. They went home after the party.

Later on, Casimero said her children complained of stomach ache and started to vomit. She remembered them having eaten salad at the party.

Casimero said she rushed her children to the hospital, only to discover that others she saw at the party were also at the hospital and complaining of stomachache and nausea.

Dr. Rebecca Valde-Aguirre, chief of the Culasi District Hospital, said the patients all pointed to the salad they ate as the culprit.

“They said the salad was a dessert, specifically the gelatin used,” Aguirre said.

Chloe Urbina confirmed that they failed to refrigerate the gelatin they used for the salad.

Urbina’s own seven-year-old son Harvey, the birthday celebrator, was also hospitalized.

Her husband Henry said they were very sorry for what happened.

Dr. Aguirre said all the victims are out of danger.

The municipal government of Culasi will help in the hospital expenses of the patients./PN