More than 80 poisoned in a Portuguesa high school: what is known so far

85 people, including students, teachers and security officials, were poisoned this November 7 at the June 27 high school, in Turén, Portuguesa state.

NTA learned that those poisoned were 80 students, two teachers, two PNB officials and a nurse who helped the students who were entering the Dr. Armando Delgado Montero Hospital in Turén, some fainted and others with respiratory difficulty.

Some have also been transferred to the Oswaldo Barrios de Píritu hospital, in the Esteller municipality, and to private health centers in Villa Bruzual, capital of the Turén municipality.

Due to the situation, which generated alarm in the community, classes were suspended until Monday in that and other educational centers in Turén.

The mayor of Turén, Onofrio Cavallosaid that the first case was reported at approximately 8:30 in the morning. But it was after 11:00 am that the case broke out and the information began to circulate on social networks, where supplies and the presence of health personnel were requested to assist the young people.

More about the case of intoxicated people at Portuguesa high school

Those affected presented symptoms such as fainting and breathing difficulties. Some became unconscious and when they regained consciousness, they did not remember what had happened. This was reported to NTA by the relative of a 13-year-old second-year student.

A PNB official who helped receive the affected people when they were entering also became intoxicated. “When they take away her oxygen she faints,” said the officer’s relatives.

The situation generated a deployment of security agencies, which cleared the entire hospital and even forced the relatives of those affected and other patients to wear masks.

There is a very pungent smell inside, said one of the users.

In the afternoon, Commissioner Luis Medina, Secretary of Citizen Security in the state of Portuguesa, said that the Scientific, Criminal and Criminal Investigation Corps (Cicpc) and the Public Ministry are in charge of the investigations.

In addition to this, he noted that a special anti-terrorism unit was traveling from Caracas to join the investigation.

On the other hand, he explained that they have already sent the blood samples of those affected to a laboratory to determine the substance that caused their poisoning. In addition, a sweep was carried out at the high school.