Hundreds of University of Brawijaya Students Food Poisoned

ILLUSTRATION OF DOC VOI

MALANG - The Malang Regency Health Office reported that hundreds of students from the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Brawijaya had food poisoning while carrying out Student Work Camp (KKM) activities in Wagir District, Malang Regency, East Java.

Head of the Malang Regency Health Office Drg Wijanto Wijoyo said that as many as 510 students had food poisoning with symptoms of diarrhea and nausea.

"There were 510 students who had food poisoning as a result of the confirmation from the Wagir Health Center, with symptoms of nausea, vomiting and dizziness," said Wijanto, reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 7.

Wijanto explained, of the 510 students who experienced food poisoning, as many as eight people had to undergo treatment at the Wagir Health Center. Of the eight people, as many as five people have been repatriated.

According to him, the student who was undergoing treatment at the Wagir Health Center received intensive care and was given intravenous fluids. A team from the Wagir Health Center has also been sent to the scene of the incident to take samples of leftover food or drinks.

"We have sent an epidemiological investigation team to the location to look for and take samples of leftover food or drink and to see the condition of other patients," he said.

Based on the testimony of witnesses, he continued, the food poisoning occurred on Tuesday (7/2) at approximately 00.30 a.m. of Western Indonesian Time (WIB). Previously, the students received meal allowances on Monday (6/2) afternoon with a menu of white rice and capcay.

The food menu, he continued, was then distributed to all students of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Brawijaya who took part in the KKM in Jedong Village, Wagir District, Malang Regency. The food is cooked by local people.

"Then they had dinner at around 21.00 p.m. WIB with a menu of white rice and eggs cooked with Balinese spices. However, at 00.30 a.m. WIB, symptoms started to appear which were suspected to be due to food poisoning," he said.

He explained, the time of the incident took place very quickly with the shortest interval of three hours and the longest for six hours. During that period, there were 510 students who experienced food poisoning.

The Wagir Health Center has taken food samples and sent them to the Malang Regency Regional Health Laboratory (Labkesda) for research.