KOTA KINABALU: Some 91 primary school pupils were rushed to the clinics and hospitals here yesterday for food poisoning.
State Education Department director Datuk Raisin Saidin confirmed the case involving pupils from Sekolah Kebangsaan Pulau Gaya after the issue went viral on social media.
Raisin, in a statement today, said the pupils were rushed to the nearest clinics and hospitals after they developed symptoms associated with food poisoning, including vomiting.
The case came to light after teachers noticed some of the pupils complained of vomiting and feeling unwell.
"The school's management and teachers immediately started gathering information and identifying other students who also developed similar symptoms.
"The affected pupils were immediately rushed to the nearest clinics and hospitals around the city," he said.
Based on reports by the Kota Kinabalu district education office's Student Affairs Unit, Raisin said 55 pupils were treated at Sabah Women and Children's Hospital in Likas while 25 pupils were sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
He also said eight pupils received treatment at the Luyang health clinic, two at a clinic in SAFMA jetty here, and one at the UTC Kota Kinabalu clinic.
"Ninety percent of the pupils were warded to allow doctors to monitor their situation with the remaining allowed to return home," he said.
In response to the incident, Raisin said the district education office has instructed the school to temporarily halt the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT) and cease the operation of the school's canteen.
"The district education office has scheduled an appointment with the Kota Kinabalu health office team to conduct an investigation and take samples at the school today.
"The Sabah Education Department requests all parents and guardians to report immediately if their children experience symptoms of food poisoning.
"We are constantly monitoring the situation including visiting pupils who were admitted to the hospitals."
He added that the cause of the food poisoning is still under investigation and it has yet to be determined whether it originated from the school canteen or the food served under the RMT.