Five people were taken to hospital by ambulance on Thursday, July 29, after a group of people were found vomiting, collapsing and lapsing into unconsciousness at a Toolamba house.
CFA District 22 Commander Mark Narayan said CFA firefighters from Toolamba, Mooroopna and Tatura, as well as Shepparton Fire Rescue Victoria, were called to what was initially a possible carbon monoxide poisoning-related incident at a Toolamba house at 7.40pm.
When firefighters arrived, they found seven adults with acute sickness, vomiting, only a little lucid and lapsing in and out of consciousness, Mr Narayan said.
The Shepparton FRV hazmat unit firefighters donned breathing apparatus and tried to determine the cause of the illness, and carbon monoxide poisoning was ruled out.
“There is a strong possibility this was from a prepared home-cooked meal that was consumed,” Mr Narayan said.
“We don’t know what it is, but it made people quite sick.”
Four people were taken to Goulburn Valley Health by ambulance.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said a woman believed to be in her 30s and a woman believed to be in her 60s were taken to hospital in a serious condition, while a man believed to be in his 30s and a woman believed to be in her 60s were taken to hospital in a stable condition.
A man believed to be in his 60s was taken to Northeast Health in Wangaratta in a stable condition.
Two of the people taken to hospital in Shepparton have been discharged, while two remained in a serious condition on Friday afternoon.
The man taken to hospital in Wangaratta was expected to be released from hospital on Friday night.
Another two people were treated by ambulance officers at the scene.
Mr Narayan praised the firefighters who were confronted with what he described as a “challenging scene”.
“People were calling for help and collapsing,” he said.
Mr Narayan said luckily three CFA members worked in the health industry and quickly triaged the patients and provided help to them.
“I’m very proud of what the CFA volunteers did,” he said.
“Even though they are volunteer firefighters, they bring their personal skill sets.”
After the arrival of seven ambulances, an Ambulance Victoria health commander also prioritised who needed more help than others.