Egypt: Number of students with food poisoning reaches 3,000

The number of Egyptian students who have been struck with food poisoning after eating school meals has increase to 3,000.

The Ministry of Health yesterday announced that 312 students were hospitalised with symptoms of food poisoning in the provinces of Suez, Aswan and Cairo. They were transferred by ambulances to hospitals.

Read: Egypt: 1,1911 students suspected of having food poisoning

In Othman Ibn Affan Primary School in Suez, in the northeast of Egypt, 211 schoolchildren had symptoms of food poisoning. They were admitted to the Suez General Hospital and Suez Health Insurance Hospital, according to Egyptian newspapers.

In Rifqa Primary School in Nasr El-Nuba in the Aswan province, south of the country, 98 students showed symptoms of food poisoning and were admitted to Kom Ombo General Hospital and Nasr El-Nuba Hospital.

Health Minister Tarek Shawky said in a statement on Tuesday that he ordered a committee to be sent to schools in various provinces to ensure that school meals are stored and handled in accordance with health and safety standards.