EIGHT of the 11 Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) campers who may have suffered from food poisoning have gone home.
Staff Sergeant Bendie Nuñez, desk officer of the Asturias Police Station, told SunStar Cebu the girls started experiencing upset stomach on Saturday night, Oct. 5, 2019, while on a three-day camping trip at the Maguiao National High School.
“They were already rushed to the rural health unit (RHU) infirmary for treatment. Eight already went home, while three are still there for further treatment,” Nuñez said.
However, Department of Education (DepEd) Province District Supervisor Gary Napoles and school principal Maria Corazon Real clarified that food poisoning did not cause the girls’ stomachache. They said the campers were just not used to the climate in the area.
“It’s not food poisoning. Aside from the fried rice, the girls were eating a lot of other foods like ice cream and balut outside of the school,” Napoles said.
He explained that if it had been food poisoning, the campers would have suffered from severe diarrhea and vomiting 30 minutes to two hours after ingestion.
As for the three campers who remain at the RHU infirmary, results of their laboratory tests have been released.
“It was not food poisoning. One was having her menstruation so she was having cramps. The other has a history of hyperacidity and the (other) one was diagnosed with acute gastritis,” Real said.
“The girls were given medicines for their stomachache and they were immediately relieved,” she said.
Real said 24 GSP members participated in the activity. (JOB)