14 December 2023 , 04:32
600
0
Seven primary school children were rushed to hospital after eating gummy bears that tested positive for fentanyl, a drug 50 times stronger than heroin.
The primary school children, who attend Central Elementary School in Amherst, Virginia, started showing signs of an allergic reaction after munching on the sweets before emergency services were called when their condition deteriorated. The candies and their bag were tested and found to contain the potentially lethal drug fentanyl, according to Lt. Dallas Hill from the Amherst County Sheriff's Office.
After all experienced symptoms of nausea, vomiting, headache and muscle spasms, emergency services were called as the students were sent to the school nurse. According to Lt. Dallas Hill of the Amherst County Sheriff's Office, the candies were then tested along with the bag they had been carried to school in, with results coming back positive for the potentially deadly drug fentanyl.
READ MORE: US servicewoman 'didn't see' Brit motorcyclist before hitting him in fatal crash
The sheriff's office believes the incident was unintentional. As part of their investigation, the sheriff's office searched a house in Amherst on Tuesday. A police statement released on Wednesday revealed that two people have been arrested.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
Clifford Dugan was arrested and held without bond on two counts: one of a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and one of contributing to the "delinquency, abuse of a child," according to jail records. Nicole Sanders was also arrested and held on charges of contributing to the "delinquency, abuse of a child," and possessing Schedule I or Schedule II narcotics, as per jail records. She is being held on bonds of $1,000 and $1,500.
For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
Nicole Sanders was also arrested and held on charges of contributing to the "delinquency, abuse of a child," and possessing Schedule I or Schedule II narcotics (Amherst County Sheriff's Office)
Clifford Dugan was arrested and held without bond on two counts: one of a convicted felon felon in possession of a firearm and one of contributing to the delinquency, abuse of a child (Amherst County Sheriff's Office)After the incident, the school district will remind students not to share food items and continue to emphasise drug awareness across all schools, said the superintendent. Amherst School Superintendent William Wells confirmed that all children have fully recovered from the contamination that occurred either at home or on the way to school. He added, "all the parents indicate they are doing well today.
In September One-year-old boy Nicholas Feliz-Dominici was killed and three other children were hospitalised after being found unresponsive in the basement of Divino Nino daycare in the Bronx, New York City, which was secretly being used as an illegal drug-dealing hub.
Police revealed they have found multiple drugs and suspect equipment used in the manufacture of narcotics inside the nursery - with images released by the NYPD now showing a large quantity of fentanyl, other narcotics and drug paraphernalia under an artificial floor.
Mel Ramirez, 26, who lives next to the Divino Nino daycare, and said she heard a worker screaming the words " In a separate incident in September, one year old boy Nicholas Feliz-Dominici was killed and three other children were hospitalised after being found unresponsive in the basement of Divino Nino daycare in the Bronx, New York City. The daycare was secretly being used as an illegal drug-dealing hub.
The candies and their bag were tested and found to contain the potentially lethal drug fentanyl, according to Lt. Dallas Hill from the Amherst County Sheriff's Office (Getty Images)Police discovered multiple drugs and suspect equipment used in the manufacture of narcotics inside the nursery. Images released by the NYPD show a large quantity of fentanyl, other narcotics and drug paraphernalia under an artificial floor.
The police found a kilo press, used for packing large amounts of drugs, inside the centre. They believe all four children came into contact with fentanyl, a drug much stronger than heroin. Mel Ramirez, 26, who lives next door to the daycare, heard a worker screaming "the kids are dead!" repeatedly. She told the New York Post: "They were just pale and unresponsive. [One of the boys'] mouth was, like, open. I was like, 'Oh my God. I can't do anything about it either."
Otoniel Feliz, a heartbroken dad, told the Mail that his son, who was due to turn two in November, was in his first week at the daycare. He said: "'It was his first week. This was his first week. We had a good recommendation. We were told it was a great place. It looked like a nice place."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
Disabled woman paralysed after falling from wheelchair on plane walkway dies