‘Food poisoning’ downs mother, her six children

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — A 39-year-old woman and her six children in Caibiran town were rushed to the Biliran Provincial Hospital due to symptoms of food poisoning after eating "tamban" fish (herring or sardine) during their breakfast yesterday.

Caibiran Municipal Health Officer Dionisio Plaza said the six children were boys—aged 11, 7, 5, 2-year-old twins, and a 4-month-old girl.

Investigation conducted by the local health authorities in Caibiran showed that the victims suffered acute gastroenteritis, considering that some of their relatives who also ate the same food did not complain of dizziness and vomiting.

The mother and her six children are now safe from danger but are still confined at the hospital for further observation, according to Plaza, who also downplayed rumors of red tide contamination in the municipal waters as the possible cause of “food poisoning.” (FREEMAN)