21 downed, one of whom died, in Silay City, Negros Occidental due to alleged food poisoning

By Ronron
May 17, 2005

Twenty-one people were downed, one of whom died, since last weekend in Silay City, Negros Occidental due to alleged food poisoning.

Seven of the victims were only reported yesterday, but no other details were made available to Manila Shimbun during several interview attempts at the city police and Integrated Provincial Hospital (IPH).

Five other victims were also reported last May 15. They were identified in a police report as: Jason Sonio, 11; Pinky Paran, 8; Andreta Paran, one year old and eight months; Faith Salavante, 12; and Ral John Salavante, 10.

The five were allegedly part of the same group that ate the previous day (May 14) two kinds of locally sold fish that were no longer fresh. Police identified the fish as galunggong and lambiyaw.

On that day (May 14), eight persons were sent to the hospital after eating the same set of fish. One of the victims, a nine-year-old boy, died upon arrival at IPH, said police.

IPH Chief Dr. Ma. Estrella Ledesma said the victims were all diagnosed to have suffered "acute gastroenteritis with severe dehydration."

The fish was allegedly brought from an ambulant vendor in Sitio Patag Diutay, Barangay Patag, SilayCity, about 30 kilometers away from the city proper./DMS