27 hospitalized for eating palabok

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – At least 27 persons were hospitalized after eating pansit palabok or noodles in Ligao City, Albay Monday afternoon.

Twenty-two of the victims were brought to the Josefina Belmonte Duran District Hospital and four others to the Garcia Hospital for treatment of acute gastroenteritis.

One was immediately discharged after receiving treatment.

The victims reportedly suffered dizziness and abdominal pains after eating palabok served during a birthday party.

The palabok was reportedly bought from a take-out stall on Mckinley street. 

City health officer Wynss Samar said the victims were in stable condition.

“We are going to the villages to find out if there were other victims who opted not to seek medical treatment. We will also distribute medicine as well as conduct information drive,” Samar said.

He said Ligao City Mayor Pat Gonzales ordered him to provide financial assistance to the victims.

“We ordered the store to stop cooking palabok as the health team will inspect their premises,” Samar said.

City police chief Superintendent Brenda Garcia said the victims started to experience dizziness, difficulty in breathing and stomach pain two hours after eating.

Most of them came from five families from  Barangay Layon and Tuburan in Ligao.

“Among them was an 11-month-old baby and an 88-year-old,” Garcia said, adding that they would conduct a separate investigation on the incident.