Bloemfontein – More than 200 students from Kagisho Secondary School, Phahameng, Bloemfontein, in the Free State, fell ill on Monday, (10 March 2025), from suspected food poisoning.
The Free State Departments of Health and Education said in a joint statement that the illness was first noticed at the weekend during a Matric study camp attended by 355 learners.
On Sunday afternoon, several learners began reporting symptoms consistent with food poisoning.
“By Monday, the number of affected individuals had risen to 214, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and fever,” the joint statement said.
Immediate medical attention was required.
The affected students were transported to local health facilities, including Poly Clinic and Pelonomi Casualty.
As many as 142 learners were treated at the Poly Clinic, 67 at Pelonomi Casualty, and five at Pelonomi Netcare.
At least eight children remained in casualty on Monday awaiting results from blood samples taken earlier.
“In response to this incident, local health authorities have been notified, and the school administration cooperated fully with ongoing response efforts,” the statements said.
“Emergency Medical Services (EMS), both government and private, were activated to assist with triage and transportation of affected learners.”
Next Steps:
- The Outbreak Response team is surveilling the situation to determine the scope of the outbreak and respond to any emerging developments.
- Control measures are being implemented to prevent further spread of illness.
- Medical treatment and care was provided to all affected individuals.
Pelonomi Pharmacy has dispatched necessary medications to all children who were seen, ensuring they receive appropriate care.
Additionally, Environmental Health Practitioners have been activated to investigate the cause of the incident and recommend measures to prevent future occurrences.
Situation on Monday, (10 March 2025)
The response to this incident has been effectively managed by Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital, Poly Clinic, Netcare, and the joint operations of Government and Private EMS.
Currently, only eight children remain in casualty awaiting results from blood samples taken earlier.
They are receiving intravenous fluids and are showing no signs of serious illness.
