At least 24 students and two adults from Virac, Catanduanes, were rushed to the hospital after experiencing severe symptoms from eating tuba-tuba fruit.
Jatropha curcas L., or tuba-tuba, is one of the poisonous plant species found in the Philippines.
The individuals affected are from Barangays Antipolo Del Norte and Antipolo Del Sur.
The problem began when the students ate tuba-tuba fruit, which caused them to experience symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, and nausea.
"Kumain sila ng tuba-tuba, galing sila sa school tapos yung isang bata umuwi na, nangyari yun pagdating doon sa bahay parang tutumba na siya," Barangay Councilwoman Flor Clemente from Antipolo Del Norte said.
"Pagdating po nin anak ko, di man po siya nagsabi na nakakain po siya nun, nakita ko nalang po nagparasuka po siya," one of the parents said.
Barangay councilwoman Lucila Bagadiong from Antipolo Del Sur urged parents and children to be careful when eating wild fruits.
"Maimpormaran su gabos na konstituentes digdi sa Antipolo, lalo na ang mga parent [tapos] mga kaakian, na dae na mautro. Ta yan bako man yan masabing sinugo su mga kaakian kundi aksidenteng nagkaon sinda," Bagadiong said.
The Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Virac is currently conducting an information education campaign to prevent such incidents from happening again.
The RHU clarified that while tuba-tuba leaves are used as herbal medicine, the fruit should not be consumed.
"Kung talagang marami yung nakain mo, and then lumala yung epekto katulad nitong abdominal pain, vomiting [ay delikado]," Jonand Ibones, a Public Health Nurse with the Virac Municipal Health Unit, said.
"So mabuti nga at diretso namang naagapan itong mga bata at nadala sa ospital so nalapatan sila ng kaukulang lunas," Ibones added.
The Department of Education (DepEd) Catanduanes has yet to release a statement.