In a recent school camp held at the Ministry of Education’s Labrador Outdoor Adventure Centre, 35 Primary 5 students and two staff members from Catholic High School (Primary) fell ill with gastroenteritis. The camp took place from Aug 26 to 28.
Thankfully, none of the individuals affected were hospitalized, as confirmed in a joint statement by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Aug 29.
Following reports of stomach upsets among the pupils during the camp, the school informed parents via text message. The affected individuals received prompt care and attention from the camp’s employees, with parents being notified accordingly. The school also took proactive measures to disinfect the campsite and keep a close eye on the situation.
The MOH and SFA are currently investigating the incident.
According to Catholic High student Brendan Law, many students and staff members sought medical assistance at the sick bay due to symptoms like fever, diarrhea, and vomiting.
In a similar incident back in February, the camp’s caterer was involved in a food poisoning case with students from Northbrooks Secondary. The caterer refrained from commenting due to the ongoing SFA investigation.
While the exact cause of the illness remains uncertain, the Outdoor Learning and Adventure Education Association suggested several possibilities, including students serving food to one another, a practice aimed at teaching stewardship during such camps.
Despite the ordeal, most of the affected students and staff have already recovered and returned to school. As a precautionary measure, Catholic High informed CNA that they have engaged a different caterer for future events.
Lastly, MOH and SFA emphasized the joint responsibility for food safety, underscoring the need for food operators to uphold good food safety practices. They also stressed their commitment to taking enforcement action against any food operators found to be in violation of regulations.
