Jatropha fruits down 58 kids

SOLANO, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines  – At least 58 pupils in a hilly village in this commercial town were rushed to hospitals the other day due to poisoning after eating fruits of the tagumbao or jatropha tree.

As of yesterday, the children, Grade 1 to 6 pupils of the Commonal Elementary School, were already in stable condition, most of them discharged from three hospitals they were rushed to Thursday night.

“The patients suffered from poisoning secondary to consumption of tagumbao fruits,” said Dr. Edwin Galapon, provincial health officer.