At a school in Yasothon province, 147 kindergarten children suddenly experienced severe stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Doctors suspect the cause to be food poisoning. Authorities are urgently seeking the source of this outbreak.
On 10 June 2026, reporters reported that at a municipal school in Yasothon city, more than 147 students from kindergarten levels 1 to 3 suddenly developed severe stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Several children with serious symptoms required hospitalization at Yasothon Hospital.
Mr. Chanchai Sorsriwichai, Governor of Yasothon province, immediately led relevant government officials to the area to closely monitor the situation. He inquired about solutions and ordered urgent measures to limit the spread of the outbreak as quickly as possible.
Governor Chanchai ordered the epidemiology team to conduct a thorough investigation of all involved to identify the outbreak's source. They collected samples from individuals who consumed the food, food ingredients, drinking water, and the surrounding school environment.
Initially, officials collected samples from patients treated at Yasothon Hospital and sent them to the laboratory for testing. They are currently awaiting official confirmation of the test results.
Additionally, to ensure confidence in disease surveillance and safety measures for students and staff, the school announced a special temporary closure from 11 to 12 June 2026. This allows public health officials and school staff to thoroughly clean and disinfect all classrooms, the cafeteria, restrooms, and common areas to ensure every inch is sanitized, safeguarding everyone and swiftly determining the cause to prevent recurrence.
The Yasothon municipality confirmed it will conduct a transparent, careful, and fair investigation. If any faults or causes related to food production, preparation, or handling are found, strict actions will follow relevant regulations and laws.
Following this, the Yasothon Governor and his team visited Yasothon Hospital to check on the hospitalized children, offering encouragement and reassurance. They explained the ongoing response measures to the families, which greatly comforted and reassured the parents.
Dr. Thanomsilp Kanmali, Director of Yasothon Hospital, and Dr. Kiriya Jitnapakarn, a pediatrician there, jointly reported that about 15 kindergarten children with diarrhea are currently being treated at the hospital. Preliminary assessments suggest food poisoning as the likely cause. Whether there is a concurrent infection requires further detailed diagnosis and investigation.
The condition of the hospitalized children is not currently worrisome; hospitalization is necessary mainly for those with high fever and dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea. Doctors are closely administering intravenous fluids and antibiotics. They advised parents to promptly bring their children to the hospital if they show severe diarrhea, frequent vomiting, high fever, lethargy, or unusual behavior, or if parents are concerned.
Yasothon Hospital has prepared a full response plan, including pediatric care with doctors on duty, and reserved wards and beds to accommodate more patients if needed. A team of doctors and nurses is ready to provide 24-hour care to ensure the safety of Yasothon’s children.