Food poisoning among children prompts call for disaster declaration in South Africa

SOUTH AFRICA – Following a surge in food poisoning cases affecting children, the Gauteng Executive Council has urged the South African government to declare the widespread outbreaks a disaster.

Sizwe Pamla, spokesperson for Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, told Xinhua in a phone interview that the council plans to request a disaster declaration to address the situation.

Pamla stated that government officials and executive council members are actively working to tackle the issue, including increasing the number of compliance officers monitoring food sold in local tuck shops.

“Discussions are ongoing with various government structures and communities to curb the spread of food-borne illness,” Pamla said.

The outbreak had impacted four provinces, with Gauteng being the hardest hit, recording at least 10 deaths and hundreds of hospitalizations.

In the most recent incident in Katlehong, Gauteng, 110 primary school students were hospitalized Wednesday after experiencing severe stomach cramps and vomiting from eating samp, a dish made from dried corn, at school, according to the provincial education department.

In response, the South African government had launched a coordinated investigation into the food poisoning cases.

Acting national government spokesperson, Nomonde Mnukwa, announced Monday that investigation teams, including the National Consumer Commission and the South African Police Service, were collaborating to identify the source of contamination.