A TOTAL of 123 students from Lawigan National High School in Mati City who were told to take a tablet of folic acid were rushed to a hospital after complaining of stomach pain and dizziness.
Police Regional Office-Davao spokesperson Catherine dela Rey said the Davao Oriental Provincial Police Office received a report about the incident around 2 p.m. of July 11.
Based on initial investigation, the students were administered the folic acid around 10 a.m. of the same day as part of the school's weekly program.
"Reportedly after an hour (of taking the tablet), 72 female students experienced stomach upset and dizziness, thus they were hurriedly brought to DOPMC (Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center) for medication," dela Rey said.
According to the hospital management, a total of 97 patients who were examined at the outpatient department were already discharged and given medications, while seven were advised to go home after their conditions stabilized.
Ten patients were still under observation at the hospital's emergency room, as of Tuesday evening. Nine others were admitted as requested by their families.
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, only seven students remained in the hospital, as their families preferred to have them monitored there. The rest were discharged, said the Mati City information office.
The Department of Health regional office deployed on Wednesday an epidemiologic surveillance unit to conduct an investigation and assessment. (JCR/With reports from ASP)