Over 40 schoolchildren in northeast China's Liaoning Province have been taken ill only a week after moving into newly-furnished classrooms, families and doctors said today.

 

At least 45 primary and secondary school students were taken to hospital in Shenyang over the weekend from the city of Panjin, lying 100 km south.

 

"The children all complained of nausea and of weakness in the limbs," said a father whose son Wang Zhenji was among the sick students. "More students will likely arrive later during the day."

 

The students are currently under observation at Shengjing Hospital with hospital staff running further checks to rule out the possibility of poisoning.

 

The children, when questioned, all blamed newly-painted walls and furniture at Panjin's Shalingzhen School, which allegedly emitted "a sickening odor."

 

An official with the provincial health department said a team has been dispatched to Panjin where more cases of illness are likely. However, school authorities ruled out any instance of food poisoning today.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2007)