TRICHY: As many as 20 nursing students of the K A P Viswantham Government Medical College (KAPVGMC), Trichy who were suffering from diarrhoea due to food poisoning for the past two days were admitted to an exclusive ward in Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH).
The students staying in the hostel inside MGMGH premises had fallen sick on Tuesday allegedly after consuming food provided there. The affected students were given treatment in the hospital on Wednesday but did not recover fully. Hence, they were admitted to the nursing students ward in the hospital where they were being treated till Thursday. As on Thursday, six severely-affected students were hospitalized while the rest of them remained in the hostel with medication.
When TOI spoke to some of the students, they were reluctant to open up about the reason for the outbreak fearing consequences from the college administration.
A student on condition of anonymity said, "The students were affected by vomiting and diarrhoea from Tuesday after consuming food provided in the hostel. Very few students only got admitted after they were severely affected.
But some of them did not want to get admitted so they are taking rest in the hostel." More than 500 nursing students are staying in the hostel.
The health wing of the Trichy Corporation took food samples from the hostel and sent it for testing. The students were provided corporation supplied drinking water.
"The drinking water should be checked at the end point periodically by the hospital itself. If it was due to water contamination, it would have affected a lot of patients. Hence, we suspect food contamination could be the reason. Anyway, we have taken the water sample," Dr S Mariappan, city health officer told TOI.
The food safety officer (FSO) of food safety wing also inspected the hostel but they could not take the food sample. "There was no food establishment there to take them for sample. So, we are waiting to check where there will be any further history of the disease. If not, there will be no need for taking food samples. The food contractor of the hospital has applied for the renewal of the food safety licence," Dr A Ramakrishan, designated officer, food safety wing said.
Meanwhile, the college faculty refused to comment on the matter as the principal was unavailable.
The students staying in the hostel inside MGMGH premises had fallen sick on Tuesday allegedly after consuming food provided there. The affected students were given treatment in the hospital on Wednesday but did not recover fully. Hence, they were admitted to the nursing students ward in the hospital where they were being treated till Thursday. As on Thursday, six severely-affected students were hospitalized while the rest of them remained in the hostel with medication.
When TOI spoke to some of the students, they were reluctant to open up about the reason for the outbreak fearing consequences from the college administration.
A student on condition of anonymity said, "The students were affected by vomiting and diarrhoea from Tuesday after consuming food provided in the hostel. Very few students only got admitted after they were severely affected.
But some of them did not want to get admitted so they are taking rest in the hostel." More than 500 nursing students are staying in the hostel.
The health wing of the Trichy Corporation took food samples from the hostel and sent it for testing. The students were provided corporation supplied drinking water.
"The drinking water should be checked at the end point periodically by the hospital itself. If it was due to water contamination, it would have affected a lot of patients. Hence, we suspect food contamination could be the reason. Anyway, we have taken the water sample," Dr S Mariappan, city health officer told TOI.
The food safety officer (FSO) of food safety wing also inspected the hostel but they could not take the food sample. "There was no food establishment there to take them for sample. So, we are waiting to check where there will be any further history of the disease. If not, there will be no need for taking food samples. The food contractor of the hospital has applied for the renewal of the food safety licence," Dr A Ramakrishan, designated officer, food safety wing said.
Meanwhile, the college faculty refused to comment on the matter as the principal was unavailable.
FDA can conduct a thorough inspection .Whether GHP. GMP guidelines recommended for safe food are followed to prevent food poisoning . Root cause of the problem needs to be analysed.
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