More than 40 Limpopo learners hospitalised after falling ill

A total of 43 learners from M.E. Makgato Secondary School in Seshego, Limpopo, were taken to hospital after experiencing diarrhoea.

The Limpopo Department of Health confirmed the incident on Friday, 16 October, revealing that 13 learners were still receiving medical treatment.

The incident has raised questions about what caused so many learners from the same school to fall ill.

43 LIMPOPO LEARNERS TAKEN TO FOUR HOSPITALS

Provincial health department spokesperson Neil Shikwambana confirmed that healthcare workers attended to the affected learners at four medical facilities.

These include Seshego Hospital, Helen Franz Hospital, Botlokwa Hospital and WF Knobel Hospital.

In an interview on Friday, Shikwambana confirmed that 13 learners remained under medical care at Seshego Hospital.

The department did not provide further details about the condition of those learners or confirm when the others were discharged.

WHAT CAUSED THE LEARNERS TO FALL ILL?

Health authorities have yet to establish what caused the learners to experience similar symptoms.

The department has not confirmed whether the incident involved food poisoning, contaminated water or another possible source of illness.

It also remains unclear when the first learners developed symptoms and whether they consumed the same food or drinks before falling ill.

No deaths have been reported in connection with the incident.

Further information is expected to clarify what caused the illness and whether the remaining learners have recovered.