Food poisoning kills two students, 200 hospitalized

KAMONYI - Two pupils from Mukinga Primary School in Kamonyi District, died of suspected food poisoning while over 200 were hospitalized. According to school authorities, most of those hospitalized have so far been discharged. About 20 remain in hospital.“The first case was realized on March 10 when a primary one child died while another in primary six died on March 18,” said Innocent Mwitirihe, the school Headmaster. “At one point, the majority of pupils were sick and admitted but the numbers have gone down,” he added. The school has a population of 1,054 pupils. The Director General of Health Communication Centre, Arthur Asiimwe, confirmed the incident and said they are investigating the cause, but suspect poor hygiene. “For now, we anticipate the problem to have resulted from food poisoning, probably related to poor hygiene. However, we have taken blood and food samples to the national laboratory to ascertain the actual cause,” Asiimwe said. “We have also dispatched a team of doctors to give a hand even though the situation seems to be stabilizing”. Information from the Ministry of Health indicates that preliminary lab results indicate cases of food intoxication. Most of the affected children were hospitalized at Mugina Health Centre complaining of fever, headache, abdominal pain and fatigue. “Mugina health officials, with the support of our team, tested 261 pupils of this school, 13 of whom were admitted at Mugina Health Centre while 14 were hospitalized at Remera-Rukoma hospital,” said Dr. Corine Karema, the acting Director General of TRAC plus said. “We would like to assure the general public that the situation is under control. Those that have been treated are responding well and more drugs have been availed. Since the ministry’s intervention, no death has occurred,” Karema said. The Director General of National Reference Laboratory, Dr. Odette Mukabayire, said that her office is currently working on the samples and will release the results soon. Ends