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SOME 51 students from a college in Melaka Tengah are suspected to have suffered food poisoning after consuming a meal from a café at the higher education institution, reported the New Straits Times.
The English-language daily said the case came to light after six students were rushed to Jasin Hospital last Thursday with symptoms including stomach aches, vomiting, diarrhoea, and fever.
State Education, Higher Education, and Religious Affairs Committee Chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman reported that as of 6:30pm yesterday, the number of students seeking treatment at nearby health facilities had risen to 51, comprising 36 female and 15 male students.
"All of them are reported to be in stable condition. Only one student was admitted to the hospital, while the others received outpatient treatment and were allowed to return to their hostels," he told NST today.
Rahmad added that no new cases had been reported as of noon today. The report did not name the college.
Following the incident, all seven cafés operating at the college were ordered to close temporarily for 14 days, until 30 August, for cleaning and sanitation work.
"The affected students claimed to have consumed various dishes from seven different cafés at the college. As such, all seven cafés have been ordered to close to carry out cleaning and sanitisation operations to 'break the chain' of the food poisoning," Rahmad said, adding that a re-inspection by state Health Department authorities would be conducted on August 19, to evaluate the cleanliness of the affected cafés. – August 17, 2024.