Hundreds of students suffer suspected food poisoning at Pingtung County high school

More than 200 students have taken sick leave today, and 164 have reported to hospitals for treatment after a suspected food poisoning outbreak at a high school in Pingtung County yesterday, March 11.

Students from Donggang High School began suffering symptoms such as stomach pains, vomiting, and diarrhea after the school-provided lunch yesterday, and began reporting to hospitals from late afternoon into the early hours of the morning.

Of the approximately 2,000 students enrolled at the school, 231 students took sick leave today, and 164 had reported to hospitals by 12:00 noon. Forty students were hospitalized, according to the Central News Agency.

School administrators said that the hospital examinations revealed suspected infectious diarrhea and gastroenteritis. The Pingtung County Health Bureau is currently examining the case as a suspected food poisoning outbreak related to yesterday’s school lunch.

Two catering companies that supplied the school lunches yesterday have been ordered to cease operations for investigation and disinfection. Samples have been taken for examination, and the results are expected to take from one to two weeks.

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