Food poisoning strike 72 students in Bukit Mertajam

72 students of Sekolah Menengah Sains Tun Syed Sheh Shahabudin were rushed to the Bukit Mertajam Hospital last night for suspected food poisoning.

All the students, 41 boys and 31 girls, had complained of stomach aches and were brought to the hospital by the school at 9.30pm after they started vomiting.

They developed the symptoms after eating at the school hostel’s canteen.

State Health Department director Datuk Dr Sukumar Mahesan confirmed the matter and said all the students were being treated for food poisoning.

He added an investigation into the matter was currently underway.

Seventy of them received outpatient treatment while two were admitted after developing high fever and are reported to be in stable condition.