Mangaluru: A private nursing college hostel in Mangaluru was struck by a suspected case of food poisoning, as 16 girl students fell sick, complaining of mild diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal pain on Sunday night. Responding swiftly, the district health and family welfare department immediately dispatched a team to the hostel for inspection.

Upon receiving the information, District Surveillance Officer Dr Jagadeesh personally visited the affected hostel and also the hospital where the students were being treated as outpatients. He revealed that out of the 115 students residing in the hostel, 16 had reported feeling unwell. Among them, only four students required intravenous fluids before being discharged from the hospital.

In an effort to identify the source of the outbreak, the local Primary Health Center (PHC) doctor and his team visited the hostel and collected samples of both water and food. This rigorous investigation aims to determine the cause of the illness and prevent further occurrences.

Dr Jagadeesh further elaborated on the ongoing efforts to ensure the health and safety of students residing in hostels across the district. For the past two to three months, the district health team has been conducting regular visits to various hostels, both government-run and private, including those associated with paramedical and medical colleges. These visits focus on examining the water sources, assessing the quality of supplied food, inspecting the storage and preparation areas, and emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and hygiene within the hostel premises.

To date, the health team has randomly visited 25 hostels in the district. Dr Jagadeesh emphasized that comprehensive guidelines have already been issued to hostels, outlining the necessary measures to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. A report summarizing the findings from the random hostel visits has also been submitted to the Deputy Commissioner for further action.

Authorities are determined to identify the cause of the food poisoning outbreak in the Mangaluru hostel promptly. Efforts are being made to ensure the well-being and safety of students, with a focus on preventing similar incidents in the future. Hostels across the district will continue to be closely monitored to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene, safeguarding the health of students residing within them.

As investigations progress, the district health and family welfare department remains committed to taking appropriate action to address any lapses and prevent the recurrence of such incidents in educational institutions.