Two infants, aged four months, have passed away and approximately 55 children have fallen ill due to suspected food poisoning at a nursery. The incident occurred at a daycare center on Ha-Mag Street in Jerusalem’s Romema neighborhood. The two babies were discovered unconscious and were immediately taken to the hospital, alongside other affected children receiving medical attention. Despite initial treatment at the scene by paramedics, the infants were transferred to Haare Zedek and Hadassah Mount Scopus hospitals, where Magen David Adom, the Israeli emergency services, sadly confirmed their deaths.
Over 25 children are currently receiving care at Shaare Zedek Hospital, with additional medical and nursing support being provided by reinforced teams. Firefighters and the HazMat unit have been present to investigate the situation and ensure safety. Initially suspected to be a hazardous material incident, authorities later focused on a potential carbon monoxide leak, prompting the building’s evacuation. However, it is now believed that the cause was food poisoning rather than a gas leak, as suggested by an inspector from the Environmental Protection Ministry on-site.
Medical teams responded promptly to the emergency, treating the children on the scene and evacuating them as necessary. The Education Ministry has launched an investigation into the incident, which is believed to have occurred at a private daycare center for toddlers within a private apartment in Romema. Residents in the affected area have been advised to steer clear while a specialized team works to identify the substance and ventilate the spaces.
The Jerusalem District police and firefighters have been engaged in life-saving operations and evacuations at the daycare center following reports of a chemical incident. The public has been urged to stay away from the building to allow emergency responders to carry out their duties uninterrupted. Following thorough monitoring activities, no hazardous or toxic substances were found at the scene, with two critically ill infants evacuated to Hadassah Mount Scopus Hospital for treatment.