17 pupils, 2 employees at Eunos pre-school develop gastroenteritis symptoms; agencies investigating

SINGAPORE – Seventeen pupils and two staff at MapleBear Kids Adventure Place in Eunos have developed gastroenteritis symptoms since March 10, with the authorities investigating the suspected cases.

In a joint response on March 14, the Communicable Diseases Agency, Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said they are investigating the suspected gastroenteritis cases at the pre-school, located at 8 Jalan Ismail.

All 17 pupils and two staff reported to have developed symptoms as at March 13 are recovering well, and none were hospitalised, the agencies said.

In an e-mail reply to queries from The Straits Times on March 13, MapleBear chief executive Patricia Koh had said a total of 16 pupils and two teachers at the pre-school had fallen ill.

She said stomach flu “appears to be a more accurate explanation” for this incident.

In a note on March 12 to parents, seen by The Straits Times, the pre-school said eight children from one of its classes were diagnosed with food poisoning, while seven children and two teachers were diagnosed with stomach flu. Four other cases were pending doctors’ diagnoses.

Out of all the pupils who consumed the food, more than 85 per cent did not fall ill.

According to Ms Koh, there are 116 pupils in MapleBear Eunos.

Stomach flu, medically called gastroenteritis, is an infection of the stomach and intestines usually caused by viruses like norovirus, and spreads easily from person to person.

Food poisoning occurs when a person consumes contaminated food containing harmful bacteria – such as salmonella – or toxins, and it is typically linked to a specific meal rather than person-to-person spread.

Ms Koh said the first person to report ill in this string of cases was a teacher who reportedly felt ill after work on March 10, and was subsequently diagnosed with stomach flu.

The teacher’s classroom was on the same floor as another class, where eight children fell sick over the last two days, Ms Koh added.

She added that some parents informed the pre-school that doctors had diagnosed their children with food poisoning after learning that the children had consumed catered food.

Eight other children, whose classrooms were on the same floor as those affected, subsequently developed similar symptoms, Ms Koh said.

“The good news is that the vomiting has stopped, and all affected children are now resting at home. One child has already returned to school after a day of rest,” she said.

In its March 12 note, the pre-school said it had informed its catering provider of the diagnosed food poisoning and stomach flu cases, but added that the provider had not received similar reports from other schools.

In a media reply on March 13, SATS Food Services, the catering provider for MapleBear Eunos, said it supplied 96 lunch meals to the pre-school on March 11, and that these meals were from a batch of 2,188 meals prepared that were also served at other schools on the same day.

“To date, we have not received reports of any issues with the meals from other schools,” SATS said.

“We understand from MapleBear Eunos that apart from lunch provided by SATS, students there also consumed snacks, such as cheese sandwiches, at teatime on (March 11),” said the company, adding that these sandwiches were prepared in-house.

SATS said its meals are planned, prepared and delivered “under stringent food safety protocols”, and that it has taken food samples from the batch of meals served on March 11 for laboratory testing.

The pre-school has carried out disinfection misting in all affected classrooms and across the building’s third level. It has also disinfected toys, teaching materials and learning resources, among other measures.

Ms Koh added that the pre-school has hired a professional cleaning company to conduct deep cleaning over the weekend.

ECDA said it is monitoring the situation closely and working with the pre-school operator to ensure the well-being of all children and staff.

It has reminded the operator to ensure compliance with infection prevention and control guidelines.

In their statement on March 14, the agencies said food safety is a joint responsibility.

“While SFA puts in place and enforces the regulatory measures, food operators must play their part by adhering to good food-safety practices.

“SFA will not hesitate to take enforcement action against errant food operators.”