Twelve Linden Foundation Secondary School students were admitted to the Linden Hospital Complex yesterday suffering from vomiting and weakness.
Stabroek News understands that earlier in the day a child reportedly suffered a fit and was sent home. However, shortly after the lunch period, a number of other children reported that they felt ‘strange’ resulting in some falling unconscious, vomiting and others saying that they were experiencing weakness in their lower extremities.
Speaking from her hospital bed, a Form 3B student said, “I felt like something hit me in the chest and I fell to the ground unconscious.” The girl said when she regained consciousness at the hospital she felt very weak and experienced pains. She also said that she remembered vomiting uncontrollably. On a nearby bed a Form 2A student said she remembered feeling very weak and experiencing difficulties talking. Across the room another student from Form 3B appeared lifeless as nurses tended to her. She was very weak and was hardly able to speak.
One parent told this newspaper that he rushed to the hospital after a teacher telephoned his wife to say that their daughter was taken to hospital. He said when he arrived at the hospital his daughter was unconscious, frothing at the mouth and was kicking uncontrollably. “Immediately I realized what was happening and started praying for my child and she soon came back to herself,” the man said. The man said he will be working closely with his daughter to erase any fear that she may be experiencing.
When the students were asked if they had purchased snacks from nearby snackettes, some of the children said they did while others said they ate snacks they had taken from home. As the news spread many parents gathered at the hospital checking for their children. Many parents said that their children went home fearful; some crying as they related what had happened. The affected students were from forms 3B, 2A, 2C and 3A.
When Stabroek News attempted to get a comment from the head teacher she said she was not at liberty to speak without the consent of the Department of Education. The Department then said they needed time to consult with the school before releasing any information.
This newspaper understands that a similar incident occurred at the said school some years ago.
