Jatropha downs 5 kids in Batangas - report

06/30/2008 | 12 NN

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MANILA, Philippines - Five children were rushed to the hospital after
eating jatropha or tuba-tuba fruit in Batangas province.

A radio report said Monday morning that the incident happened in
Barangay (village) Dominador West in Alitagtag town among five
children, whose ages ranged between two and eight years old.

The five were initially identified as siblings Leandro, Valentin, and
Joana; as well as Nina Malaluan and Rea Ruiz.

Village captain Florencio Villanueva was quoted in the report as
saying that the children were playing before the food poisoning happened.

Authorities said an 18-year-old teenager approached the playing
children and prodded them to consume the fruit, saying it only tastes
like peanut.

The children experienced nausea and vomiting after eating the fruit.

They were rushed to the Batangas Regional Hospital in Batangas City
and were all declared in safe condition.

Oil extracted from the seed of the jatropha plant can be used to
produce biofuel and soap. The plant's leaves are also used to fumigate
households and expel bugs.

Alitagtag is a fifth class municipality in Batangas province, with a
population of 20,192 people living in 3,708 households. The town lies
south of the Taal volcano. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/104071/Jatropha-downs-5-kids-in-Batangas---
report


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Link to other cases discussed in the group.

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