40 students hospitalized over suspected food poisoning

KALPETTA: Forty students are undergoing treatment at the hospital after suffering from fever and vomiting. The students under treatment are from Koliyadi Mar Baselios AUP School in Bathery, Wayanad. It has not been confirmed whether the students have food poisoning or viral fever. Samples have been collected for detailed testing.

A special ward has been set up at the Bathery Taluk Hospital for the treatment of the children. The children had been showing physical discomfort for the last two days. Hospital authorities said that they are showing symptoms of food poisoning. Doctors have informed that this will be confirmed only after the test results are obtained.

It is believed that it is a bacterial infection from the school's drinking water. There is also information that up to 150 children have sought treatment at various hospitals in the last three days with similar symptoms. Panchayat officials who visited the hospital said that the health condition of the children is presently satisfactory.