27 kids hospitalised after eating mid-day meal in Gummidipoondi

Students at the small government-aided elementary school in Gummidipoondi were given vegetable rice and egg under the mid-day meal programme. After they had it, some complained of vomiting, while some suffered from abdominal pain. Others suffered from giddiness besides vomiting.

Stating that the children were immediately rushed to the Eguvarpalayam Primary Health Centre, Dr S Srinivasan, head, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Institute of Child Health and Children’s Hospital (ICH), Egmore, said, “The children were referred to the ICH and brought here. We received them between 7 pm and 9 pm on Monday.” 

While some of the children still experienced vomiting and nausea, others were reportedly recovering. “We submitted a case of food poisoning, especially since contamination of water occurs there. We treated them with oral fluid support and the children are better now and will be discharged soon,” added Dr Srinivasan. 

As Gummidipoondi falls under the Tiruvallur district, the case has been taken up there, said Dr R Kathiravan, Designated Food Safety Officer, adding, “We are following up with the case at the ICH.” Stating that the food samples from the school have been sent for tests to the Food Analysis Laboratory at Guindy, Dr Kavi Kumar, District Officer, Tiruvallur, said, “We are expecting the reports to be ready by Monday. Only then, we will know what the actual problem was.” Health Minister Dr C Vijaya Baskar visited the children at the ICH on Tuesday afternoon.