Over 40 children hospitalized after preschool rat poison scare in South Africa
A troubling incident in South Africa. More than 40 children aged three to five years old were taken to the hospital after eating rat poison at a preschool, mistaking it for candy.
"After examining 41 children, 17 were admitted on Monday afternoon to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for overnight observation, while the remaining 24 were discharged home in satisfactory condition," - hospital authorities reported.
On the same day, in a separate incident, 10 people, including two adults and eight children, were directed to the regional hospital in Johannesburg also due to food poisoning.
Food-related incidents in South Africa
Two cases of mass poisoning have raised the total number of registered food-related incidents since October last year to 863. During this period, food poisoning resulted in the deaths of 11 people.
The authorities of Gauteng province have urged parents and guardians to protect children from the risk of food poisoning and advised anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, chills, cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea to seek medical attention immediately.
