Food poisoning downs 20 in Bacolod — report

At least 20 faculty members and students were rushed to hospitals in Bacolod City Friday in what health authorities suspect to be a case of food poisoning. The victims were from the University of St. La Salle (USLS), news site Visayan Daily Star reported Saturday. USLS president Bro. Ray Suplido said faculty members brought potluck dishes for lunch to mark the university's foundation day, and that the victims might have eaten spoiled food. He said he was initially informed that a dozen were ill and were brought to the university clinic after lunch. The victims were rushed to nearby hospitals when they continued to vomit and to experience loose bowel movement. Most of those affected were faculty members from the College of Arts and Sciences, he added. The report said some of those brought to the hospitals were from the commerce and business administration colleges. At least 12 patients were brought to the Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital and eight were brought to the Bacolod Doctor’s Hospital. One teacher was brought to the emergency room of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, but was eventually transferred to the Pablo O. Torre Memorial Hospital, the report said. — LBG, GMANews.TV