Two infants, aged four months, have succumbed to a suspected food poisoning outbreak at a nursery, with approximately 55 other children falling ill in the incident. The tragic event took place at a daycare center on Ha-Mag Street in Jerusalem’s Romema neighborhood. The babies were discovered unconscious and immediately transported to Haare Zedek and Hadassah Mount Scopus hospitals. Regrettably, the Israeli emergency services confirmed the infants’ passing.
Over 25 children are currently receiving medical care at Shaare Zedek hospital, where dedicated medical and nursing teams are attending to them. Meanwhile, authorities, including firefighters and the HazMat unit, are on-site assessing the situation for any hazardous substances. Initially, there were suspicions of a hazardous material or carbon monoxide leak, leading to an evacuation of the building. However, investigations now suggest that food poisoning may have been the cause of the incident.
According to the Environmental Protection Ministry, the tragedy likely resulted from food contamination rather than a gas leak. Emergency responders described the scene as serious, with efforts made to treat the affected babies promptly. The Education Ministry has initiated an investigation into the incident, believed to have occurred at a private daycare center within a residential apartment in Romema.
Residents in the impacted area have been advised to stay clear as specialized teams work to identify the substance involved and ensure proper ventilation. Authorities, including the police and firefighters, are coordinating efforts to secure the area and assist with the evacuation process. Tests conducted by the Jerusalem District Fire Department did not detect any harmful substances, with two critically ill infants already transferred to Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital for urgent medical attention.