54 students down with food poisoning in Kedah

54 Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendang students were rushed to a health clinic here after experiencing dizziness, vomiting and stomach ache following a meal of rice and chicken sambal at the school canteen.

Kedah health director Datuk Dr Ismail Abu Taat said 10 of them were sent to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar for further treatment.

"The victims were standard one, two, four and five pupils who had rice with a chicken dish at the school canteen during recess," he said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Dr Ismail said the health department was taking samples of the food to identify the type of bacteria.

He said the school canteen would also be closed for two weeks for a clean-up by its operator until the authorities are satisfied with the level of cleanliness.