Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday urged the guests of former First Lady Imelda Marcos in her birthday party to seek medical attention if they show food poisoning symptoms.
The Health department says nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, weakness, fever and chills are the symptoms of food poisoning.
The 261 people who attended Marcos’ widow’s 90th birthday celebration at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City on Wednesday were admitted in different hospitals for suspected food poisoning.
The guests had eaten packed lunch that included chicken adobo, boiled egg and rice, and one of the physicians said the food that they had eaten were already spoiled, and that the victims might have contracted staphylococcus bacteria from the contaminated food.
Duque said the affected guests will be “placed on 48-hour hydration to ensure their full recovery.”
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. said Thursday it will help pay for the hospitalization of all the victims who need hospital care.
PhilHealth president Ricardo Morales said the victims who are PhilHealth members needing confinement could avail themselves of benefits and expect assistance from the state insurance firm. The non-members confined in government hospitals may avail themselves of the Point of Service Program.
