4 Schools Investigated as 20 Children Fall Sick after Contaminated Lunch

Health inspectors and government officials have launched a formal investigation after approximately twenty students across four schools were struck down by suspected food poisoning on Monday, 11 May.

Sanitary inspectors conducted urgent sampling on Tuesday, May 12, at the affected educational institutions, including Richelieu Government School, and at the restaurant responsible for preparing the meals.

The probe, spearheaded by both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, aims to identify the exact cause of the outbreak within these Zone d’Éducation Prioritaire (ZEP) schools.

Symptoms and Suspected Source

The incident began on Monday, 11 May, when pupils began exhibiting symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea. The onset of illness followed a school lunch consisting of bread, salad, and chicken.

One distraught mother, speaking to TéléPlus on Tuesday, expressed the fear shared by many parents.

“We cannot send our children to school healthy in the morning, only to have to rush them to the hospital in a car by the afternoon,” she said.

Ongoing Monitoring

The health inspectorate is currently monitoring the situation closely as they await laboratory results from the samples taken.

While the ministries conduct their enquiries, a formal response from the management of the schools involved is still pending.

The investigation continues to focus on the food preparation chain to ensure student safety across the ZEP network.

Source: Defi Media