Wailing parents carried the bodies of their children from hospitals after a snack of cassava – a root that’s poisonous if not prepared correctly – bought from a vendor killed 27 and sickened 100 others Wednesday at an elementary school. With the nearest hospital 20 miles away from San Jose school, in Bohol island’s Mabini town, some victims died while being carried in a variety of vehicles, including three-wheel motorcycle taxis. If cassava is eaten raw or prepared incorrectly, one of its chemical constituents will give off the deadly poison cyanide.
Vietnam: No symptoms of bird flu
Vietnamese health officials said Wednesday the 61-year-old widow of a bird flu victim has tested positive for the H5N1 virus, but showed no symptoms. Earlier in the day, officials reported that an 80-year-old man – who had two infected grandchildren – also had the virus but did not fall ill. The two cases raised concerns that avian influenza may be more widespread than originally believed.
From Herald news services
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