50 fall ill due to food poisoning

In a suspected case of food poisoning and water contamination, about 50 BSc nursing students of the MGM Nursing School, which is attached to the MGM Hospital, were admitted into the hospital on Wednesday morning after they showed symptoms of vomiting, high fever and diarrhoea.

Two students who were seriously ill have been admitted to the MGM Hospital’s Acute Medical Care (AMC) ward, 28 have been admitted as in-patients while the rest were treated as outpatients. According to sources, around 10-15 students are staying at the Nursing Hostel within MGM.

Significantly, unhygienic living conditions in the 70-year-old, dilapidated Nursing Hostel coupled with the serving of sub-standard food, getting water supplied through old water pipes and unclean surroundings have been blamed for the incident.
“Food served to nursing students here is of poor quality. Additionally, the water pipes need to be replaced urgently,” said Ms A. Yakamma, general secretary, MGM.

The Nursing Association, pointing out that despite a recent GO directing the hospital administration to pay Rs 2,500 as monthly stipend to nursing students; they still receive Rs 500 per month.

“What quality of food is expected to be served with Rs 500 in a month,” she asked. Meanwhile, the incident has resulted in a blame game between the MGM Hospital administration and the Warangal Municipal Corporation (WMC) officials.

“Though we have ordered an enquiry in this case, food poisoning is definitely ruled out as the cause as very few among the affected students showed symptoms of loose motions,” said Dr E. Ashok Kumar, superintendent, MGM Hospital.

However, Ms G. Annaprasanna, health officer, Warangal Municipal Corporation, who visited the place along with the WMC Mayor, Mr Errabelli Swarna, ruled out water contamination as reason for the incident.