Food poisoning hits orphanage

PALU, Central Sulawesi: At least 12 children from the Aisyiah orphanage were still in intensive care here yesterday after eating donated food on Saturday and coming down with food poisoning.

Sixty children aged between two to 16 had to be taken to various hospitals in the area on Saturday. However, most have been allowed to go home, the head of the orphanage Siti Chodidjah said yesterday.

Antara reported that the outbreak of food poisoning occurred after the orphanage received a donation of 100 food packets consisting of rice, boiled eggs, meat and crackers.

Many of the children became sick and had to be taken to hospital not long after they gulped down the food.

Medical staff at the city hospitals are still checking the cause of the malady. (mds)