Two infants, aged four months, have passed away, and approximately 55 children have fallen ill due to suspected food poisoning at a nursery in Jerusalem. The incident occurred at a daycare center on Ha-Mag Street in the Romema neighborhood. The two babies were discovered unconscious and were immediately taken to Haare Zedek and Hadassah Mount Scopus hospitals for treatment, but sadly, they did not survive, as confirmed by Magen David Adom, the Israeli emergency services.
Over 25 children are currently receiving medical care at Shaare Zedek hospital. The hospital has deployed additional medical teams to provide care while also offering support to the families through social work and administrative assistance.
Emergency responders, including firefighters and the HazMat unit, have been on-site to assess the situation for any hazardous substances. Initially suspected to be a chemical issue or carbon monoxide leak, it is now believed that the cause of the tragedy was food poisoning, according to the Environmental Protection Ministry inspector present.
Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident, which is believed to have taken place at a private daycare center for toddlers located within a private apartment in the Romema neighborhood. Residents in the affected area have been advised to steer clear while a specialized team works to identify the substance and ventilate the premises.
Both the police and firefighters have been actively involved in evacuating the building and ensuring the safety of the affected individuals. Tests conducted at the scene did not reveal any hazardous or toxic substances. Two critically ill infants were promptly evacuated to Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital during the emergency response.