Bengal Madrasa Food Poisoning: Nearly 100 Students, Mostly Under 12, Hospitalized After Suspected Meal Contamination

About 100 studdents were admitted with signs and symptoms of food poisoning at Burdwan Medical College Hospital, in East Burdwan, West Bengal.

Several students at a private residential madrasa in West Bengal's Easy Burdwan, mostly under the age of 12, have been hospitalised with signs and symptoms of food poisoning, such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain at the Pichkuri Nawabiya Madrasa in Aunsgram.

Food Poisoning Cases Steadily Increased From 7 To 100

The first signs of illness reportedly appeared on Saturday morning when 7 to 8 students started showing symptoms of food poisoning, and as the day progressed the number steadily spiked up to 100. The news was confirmed by Tapas Ghosh, Supervisor (MSVP) of Burdwan Medical College Hospital, in a statement. Ghosh declared, "Of the 100 students who are sick, 30 are under the age of 12. The rest are between the ages of 12 and 30. Two of them are in critical condition and have been transferred to the Central Nursing Home (CCU)."

Cause Of Food Poisoning In Bengal Madrasa

According to Ghosh, preliminary findings suggest food poisoning as the likely cause and that the district food department has launched an investigation. In a statement given by the madrasa president, Sheikh Asraf Ali and student Hazrat Sheikh, the residential students had eaten rice, lentils, soybeans and potato curry on Friday night. The next morning, many students reported being unwell and by Saturday afternoon, food poisoning cases spiked.

Reportedly, the madrasa house accommodates 250 students out of whom 100 are currently under medical observation. The food poisoning case in the area has alarmed health officials and locals in the vicinity. As of now, food samples have been collected for testing from the Bengal madrasa and police have begun further investigation at the site to determine the exact cause of the outbreak.

Common Food Poisoning Causes

The Cleveland Clinic states that some of the common food poisoning causes include, growth of bacteria when food are not fresh, properly washed or filtered, handled in a sanitary way, or undercooked food.

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