Students Fall Ill After Consuming Camp Breakfast

Food poisoning occurred at the Scout and Guides National Award camp organized at Chayyoth Govt. Higher Secondary School, Nileshwaram of Kasargod district. After several students fell ill and vomited, 75 students sought treatment at various hospitals. A total of 238 students and 15 teachers attended the camp. Health officials confirmed that the students’ condition remained stable. Following instructions from RDMO Ramdas, Deputy DMO Dr. Santhosh led food safety officers to inspect the camp. Health officials shut down the hotel that provided food to the camp after discovering irregularities. The camp, which took place on Friday and Saturday, sourced food from a hotel near the school. However, health department officials suspect that food consumed during breakfast on Sunday morning, the last day of the camp, caused the food poisoning, though they have not confirmed it yet.

Investigation and Food Samples Collected

The authorities have collected food samples from the hotel as well as samples from the students undergoing treatment for testing. Authorities believe they can only provide clarity once the test results come back.

A total of 238 students from various schools in the district attended the camp. Students sought medical attention at hospitals and health centres in Cheruvathur, Kanhangad, Neeleswaram, Balal, and Thrikarippur. Ten students from Pilikode Govt. Higher Secondary School sought treatment at the Cheruvathur Family Health Center.  Eighteen students attended the camp from Kuttamath Govt. Higher Secondary School, with two students seeking treatment at the hospital. Seventeen others reported discomfort.

Food Sourced from Multiple Locations

Health officials discovered that although the food was initially supplied by a hotel near the school, it came from various locations. The breakfast served to the students included chapatti, noodles, samosas, and vellayappam

Source: Manoramaonline