Yesterday a total of 67 pupils of the Dunyi Primary School of Wangsi Town in Sichuan Province, after having meals at school Thursday, reported symptoms of fever and diarrhea, which doctors diagnosed as acute gastroenteritis. One pupil has been discharged from hospital, according to sources with the Dayi County government. The 66 pupils who remain in hospital are in stable condition, doctors said.

Three pupils first developed fever and diarrhea at around 3:00 PM Friday and more reported similar symptoms on Saturday and were hospitalized. Officials of Dayi County said investigators still need to determine if the pupils were stricken by food poisoning or by contaminated water they'd been drinking.

The county government has established a headquarters to direct medical treatment of the pupils and ordered local schools to inspect sanitary conditions. The Ministry of Education has also ordered local education departments to inspect sanitary circumstances and check drinking water in all schools in their jurisdictions.

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2006)