Elementary pupils hospitalized

SEMARANG: A total of 15 students from the Lebdosari elementary school in West Semarang district here were hospitalized for poisoning.

Miyatun, the school principal, said that the students were allegedly poisoned by a mosquito-repellent lotion.

"The incident began when they spread the mosquito repellent on their hands, to prevent them from being bitten by Aedes aegypti mosquito. Unfortunately, they apparently forgot to wash their hands before they ate at the school canteen," said Miyatun.

The students were from the third and fourth grades.

A student said that he felt nauseous and vomited after he ate food at the canteen.

All the 15 students were immediately taken to a community health center in the area. After quick medical examinations, three students were allowed to go home, while the other 12 students were admitted to Telogorejo Hospital.

Retno Wurian, a doctor at the hospital, said that the Semarang Health Office was investigating whether the mosquito-repellent lotion had caused the incident. -- Antara