Recently, there have been reports circulating on the internet in mainland China that a kindergarten in Changxing County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, had more than 60 children experiencing “massive bleeding at school” due to excessive formaldehyde levels. A video shared online showed parents confronting the school to demand answers. After drawing attention, on May 15th, official reports denied the incident but mentioned arranging for medical examinations for two classes of children and teachers.
On May 14th, news surfaced on the mainland that over 60 children aged 4 to 6 at the Youth Palace Kindergarten in Changxing County, Huzhou City, experienced mass bleeding at school. Netizens revealed that the kindergarten renovated its classrooms at the end of August 2023 and allowed children to start classes on September 1st. Due to excessive formaldehyde levels, in late April of this year, students in the kindergarten’s junior class, who used the newly renovated classrooms, developed symptoms such as nosebleeds, thyroid cysts, thyroid nodules, and rhinitis.
The whistleblower also claimed that the kindergarten suspended classes for four days but did not take the matter seriously, nor did they inform the parents of students in the senior class who were also attending classes in the newly renovated rooms.
The whistleblower accused the school of concealing the truth, depriving parents of the right to know, failing to organize medical check-ups for the senior class children immediately after the incident, and the school authorities showing an indifferent attitude by not responding to parents’ demands.
In a video that circulated online, a large number of parents were seen demanding answers in what appeared to be a school meeting room. Parents questioned the school staff, saying, “At the very least, you should provide me with a safe environment, give me back a safe and healthy body. If you can’t even manage your own health, where do you want me to go to school?”
After the incident was exposed, on May 15th, the official announcement from Changxing County stated that the rumor of “more than 60 children experiencing mass bleeding at school” was unfounded.
However, the announcement mentioned that medical examinations were arranged for the two classes of children and teachers involved starting from May 11th. On the 13th, in the presence of representatives of the students’ parents, a third-party testing institution conducted inspections of the relevant classrooms, with results pending.
Public skepticism towards the official statements grew.
“Nowadays, ‘debunking rumors’ is like treating it as a fact.” “If it’s debunked, it means it’s true.” “If it doesn’t exist, why conduct medical examinations and test the classrooms?” “I don’t believe the debunking.”
Some individuals also commented, “The Education Bureau should take responsibility.” “This really needs to be taken seriously, and those responsible should be severely punished.” “Compensation should be provided.”