By Anita Dangazele
- Seven boys aged two to six fell ill with vomiting and diarrhoea at Msintsi Location outside East London on Friday afternoon.
- Two children aged four and five died, one remains critical and health officials closed a spaza shop pending investigation results.
Seven boys aged between two and six fell ill at Msintsi Location outside East London on Friday afternoon.
They were rushed to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and dizziness. Two children aged four and five died. Four others were treated and sent home. One child remains in a critical condition at Frere Hospital in Mdantsane.
The boys had eaten instant porridge, rice, chips and sweets before falling ill. Health officials collected samples of the food for testing.
Provincial health department spokesperson Camagwini Mavovana said a spaza shop at Msintsi Location was told to close while investigations continue. The department is working with police and Buffalo City Municipality. Clinical specimens were also collected from the children.
One of the children who died was five-year-old Tobeka Dontyile. His parents said he started vomiting on Saturday before his condition got worse.
Sinethemba Somyali spoke from Frere Hospital where his child is in critical condition. “There are no words to explain how I feel,” he said. “We woke up fine and our next child is dead, and now another one is fighting for his life.”
Buffalo City mayor Princess Faku visited the families on Sunday. “These children were very young. One death is one too many,” she said. She called for thorough inspections of spaza shops.
Health officials are providing support to the families. Postmortems will be conducted on the two children who died.
Pictured above: Buffalo City mayor Princess Faku visited families affected by the suspected food poisoning.
Image source: BCMM/Facebook
