17 Students Hospitalized Due to Suspected Food Poisoning in Kannur, Kerala

On June 23, 2023, 17 students from the Sports Division Hostel in Kannur, Kerala were hospitalized due to suspected food poisoning. The students, who were participating in a sports camp, fell ill after consuming food from the hostel’s kitchen.

The students were immediately rushed to the Kannur District Hospital, where they were admitted for treatment. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that the students were suffering from symptoms of food poisoning, including vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.

“The students were brought to the hospital in a critical condition. We have started treatment and are monitoring their health closely,” said Dr. Arun Kumar, the medical superintendent of the Kannur District Hospital.

The incident has raised concerns about the quality of food being served in the hostel’s kitchen. The Kerala Sports Council, which oversees the functioning of the hostel, has launched an investigation into the matter.

“We take this incident very seriously. We have formed a committee to investigate the cause of the food poisoning and take necessary action against those responsible,” said Rajesh Kumar, the secretary of the Kerala Sports Council.

This is not the first time that students at the Sports Division Hostel have fallen ill due to suspected food poisoning. In February 2023, several children were among 150 people admitted to the hospital in Kannur due to suspected food poisoning. In December 2015, 23 girls from the Kannur sports hostel suffered food poisoning and were hospitalized.

The recent incident has once again highlighted the need for stricter regulations and better monitoring of food safety in hostels and educational institutions across Kerala. The state government has assured that necessary steps will be taken to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.