Around fifty adults and children were victims of illness this Friday morning in a school in Saint-Benoît (east of Reunion) and the “many victims” plan had to be triggered by the prefecture.
Children and adults in care suffered from headaches, stomach aches and vomiting.
At this stage two people were hospitalized in relative emergency, "one for pain and vomiting and the second for additional examinations", detailed the prefecture in a press release midday.
The trail of an anti-ant product?
Fifty-two adults and children were examined by doctors on site, adds the prefectural services, specifying that a “chemical and biological risks” team from Sdis had been deployed “on site to investigate the causes of these health problems”.
On Tuesday, anti-ant product was sprayed within the establishment.
The André Hoareau school had to remain closed until Friday due to “odor nuisance”.
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In its press release, the prefecture however informs that according to the National Poison Control Center, “the two products used (…) for the treatment against ants in this establishment are not toxic”.
“The municipality would like to point out that the protocol to be followed after the disinsection of the school was followed to the letter.
Furthermore, the products used by the specialized company comply with environmental and health standards.
Information confirmed by the national Anti-Poison center based in Paris, which we contacted as soon as the first symptoms appeared this morning,” communicated the town of Saint-Benoît.
The school remains closed until further notice.