56 MCKK students suffer food poisoning after having meals at college

Fifty-six students of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) here suffered food poisoning after having their meals the college's dining hall last Wednesday.

Perak Health Department director Datuk Dr Juita Ghazalie said the students showed symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, fever, dizziness and abdominal pain, which was later on confirmed as food poisoning by the medical officer of the District Health Centre.

Three of them were then referred to the Kuala Kangsar Hospital while the rest received outpatient treatment at the hospital," she said in a statement.

Dr Juita said revealed that the van used to transport food from the kitchen to the dining hall was dirty, with maggots found in the vehicle.

"Other risk factors include the used dirty kitchen utensils, such as trays, jugs, water dispensers, bowls and plates," she said.

Dr Juita said several samples of the utensil and water has been sent to the Chemistry Department for inspection, adding that the Perak Health Department had instructed the food operator of the dining hall to cease their operation for the moment.

"The hostel kitchen has also been instructed to close under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988," she added.