PCF Sparkletots outbreak: 184 gastroenteritis cases to date, 7 centres affected
The number of people taken ill in a gastroenteritis outbreak at PAP Community Foundation (PCF) Sparkletots pre-schools has increased to 184 from 109 as of Wednesday afternoon (27 March), with three more centres affected on top of the four announced a day before.
A Ministry of Health (MOH) spokesperson said on Thursday that as of 4pm on Wednesday, 18 people were hospitalised, of whom nine have been discharged. Those still hospitalised remain in stable condition.
On Thursday, a PCF spokesperson said that children at three centres located at Blocks 262A and 208 Sengkang Central as well as Punggol North, displayed symptoms of food poisoning, bringing the total number of affected centres to seven.
The four others previously announced on Wednesday are located at Blocks 210, 270, 290A and 298B Sengkang Central.
“We are in close contact with affected parents and monitoring their children’s condition. PCF Sparkletots will continue to provide the relevant support for all affected parties,” said the spokesperson.
The MOH, National Environment Agency (NEA) and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said in a joint statement on Wednesday that the outbreak was traced to the consumption of food prepared by Kate’s Catering.
The caterer’s licence was suspended on Tuesday by the NEA until further notice, while investigations are ongoing.
A PCF spokesperson said on Wednesday that it has suspended the caterer’s services – which served food at 11 of its Sparkletots centres – as a precautionary measure.
“Temporary food arrangements have already been made to provide meals from an in-house cook with the requisite certification or from other NEA-certified food caterers,” the spokesperson added.
Last month, 30 children and one employee were affected following a gastroenteritis outbreak at the MindChamps pre-school’s Tanglin branch.
In November last year, another outbreak linked to the River Valley branch of Spize Restaurant saw 72 people affected. Sats employee Fadli Salleh, 38, subsequently died as a result of the illness.
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