Today, the 13th of August, 2025 at about, uh, 13 hours, uh, at Sizwe Agricultural School, uh, there was an acute food poisoning. (computer sound effect) It is alleged that, uh, patients, or the school children, they ate rice and Luckystar tinned fish, and they started experiencing abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.
Others complained of dizziness and some experienced seizures. There were seven ambulances that were called up. Three patient transport vehicles, three EMS rescue vehicles, one EMS helicopter.
There was SCPS center, (computer sound effect) Ortambo District Disaster and Ortambo environmental health practitioners that were involved. There were about 70 children that were, um, taken to hospital. There were also 30 that accompanied the s- the 70, and then there was one that was airlifted.
So the number now is 101. There were no deaths that were reported. (computer sound effect) The patients were transported to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha Regional Hospital and Ngangelizwe Health Center. Now, we are also still receiving calls from the control center as other children, they went home, and started being sick at home. So the number is likely to increase.
Also Emergency Medical Services at Mthatha responded to food poisoning at Gobisizwe Agricultural School, Ngqeleni today.
About 70 school kids were transported to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha Regional Hospital and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre.
Paramedics in Ambulances and in a Helicopter attended to the learners.
Some of the learners were in drips and those in serious condition were transported by Helicopter.