The Ministry of Education confirmed that the milk that intoxicated 649 public school children in central cities in San Francisco de Macor?s, Salcedo and La Vega was contaminated by bacteria. The lab at Indotec said that the samples analyzed could have been contaminated before, during or after the delivery, and that the children, ages 6 to 14 years, were affected to a greater or lesser degree depending on their health condition and natural immunity. In a press conference yesterday, Ministers of Public Health and Education, Altagracia Guzman and Ligia Amada Melo did not give details as to how and when the contamination of the milk occurred, nor attributed responsibilities. Minister of Education Melo said that the authorities have not been able to determine if the milk was contaminated at the plant or during the transport. The Ministry of Education did say the affected milk came from their supplier, Nutrilac, a division of Agroexport. The Ministry has suspended purchases of milk from that company and says that if when the studies are completed negligence is determined, pertinent measures will be taken. Tests and studies continue. Pediatrician Rafael Acra said that the intoxication could have been caused by inadequate pasteurization of the milk. He lamented that medics in affected areas did not take samples of stools for more complete testing.
