Seventy-nine persons sought medical help for suspected food poisoning at the Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital in Bacolod City Sunday night, the Bacolod City Health Office reported yesterday.

Of those who went to the hospital for check-up, 23 were admitted for further observation, while 56 were outpatients suffering from upset stomachs, Dr. Salome Biñas, CHO officer-in-charge, said.

The patients, who had come from a sports activity of cigarette company Mighty Corp., started to arrive at the hospital around 5 p.m. Sunday, with most of them complaining of abdominal pain, Biñas said.

Aside from abdominal pains, the 23 who were confined in the hospital were suffering from diarrhea and vomiting, Biñas added.

The patients, who had joined a sportsfest at the La Herencia clubhouse in Bacolod City, were reportedly served food and drinks from two catering outlets.

Although the patients manifested symptoms of food poisoning, Biñas said nothing is conclusive yet as samples taken from the patients were still under laboratory observation.

She said the CHO will continue to monitor the incident as it involved a lot of people, although the number of those admitted remained at 23 as of yesterday.

Food catering businesses in the city are required to have permits to operate and their facilities are properly inspected by CHO sanitary inspectors to ensure safe food preparations, Biñas said.

Even food stalls are inspected by the CHO to prevent food contamination, she added.*NAB

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