TACLOBAN CITY -- The 70 athletes and coaches from Biliran province who fell ill due to food poisoning over the weekend, have been given clearance to participate in the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic (EVRAA) Meet slated on April 6-12.
Department of Health Eastern Visayas information officer John Paul Roca said all the students admitted in hospitals were discharged Sunday afternoon a day after they suffered food poisoning.
Of the 70 victims, 68 are athletes and two are trainers. The victims were sent to Ospa Farmers Medical Center, Ormoc District Hospital, and the Ormoc Doctors’ Hospital.
“All are now out of hospitals. They already have clearance from the city health office and Department of Education that they are fit to play,” Roca told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview Monday.
The athletes experienced vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and dizziness around 7 p.m. on Saturday after eating rice and meat cooked in coconut milk for their dinner at the mess hall of Ormoc City Senior High School.
The health department believes that the food was contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria commonly found on the skin and hair as well as in the noses and throats of people and animals.
These bacteria are present in up to 25 percent of healthy people, and are even more common among those with skin, eye, nose, or throat infections.
“Our advice to caterers is to be hygienic in their food preparation since they are serving hundreds of participants. Athletes should not buy food from peddlers to ensure food safety,” Roca said.
EVRAA, which opened in Ormoc City Sunday, is the biggest sports event in the region participated by 9,516 athletes from 13 schools’ division in the region’s six provinces.
Athletes will be competing in archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiard, boxing, chess, dance sports, football, futsal, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, wrestling, and wushu. (PNA)
