Strathmore University students admitted to hospital after suspected mass food poisoning

Some 25 students and staff of Strathmore University are admitted to various hospitals in Nairobi after suspected food poisoning.

They were among about 300 others, most of them final-year students, who ate the food during the university’s seniors’ dinner last Friday.

Hours later, about 80 sought medical attention at the Strathmore University Medical Centre, while others were treated at other hospitals for food poisoning.

Eleven students are admitted to Nairobi West Hospital, five to Nairobi Hospital, one is at Maria Immaculata in Lavington, three at Mater Hospital, and three at Aga Khan Hospital. The university has pledged to pay the students’ medical bills.

DELICIOUS

Ms Jemimah Saru, 22, said the party went well and she found the food quite delicious, until a few hours later.
“I went back to my hostel at around midnight. I started feeling sick at around 6am. I was vomiting and had diarrhoea. I took water and thought nothing much of it,” she said.

But at 10am, the Bachelor of Commerce finalist realised her stomach upset was only getting worse and she went to the university clinic.
“I was given antibiotics. But on Saturday night, the sickness started again and I was now feeling very weak as I had not eaten all day,” Ms Saru recounted.

At the time, two of her friends had been complaining about stomach discomfort and vomiting.
On Sunday morning, said Ms Saru, they got word from their student leader that the administration wanted everyone who had eaten at the dinner to get tested at Nairobi West Hospital.

“My two friends and I hired a taxi to Nairobi West Hospital where our samples were taken. We returned the next day feeling worse and were admitted on Monday at 5pm,” she said.
While her sickness started hours after the dinner, Ms Cynthia Oguna said she had started feeling sick even before the party was over.

“I remember only having the salad because I was not very hungry. I have a sensitive stomach and I felt sick immediately. I rushed to the washroom and vomited,” she said.

On Saturday, she bought some medicine and when she showed no signs of improvement, she told her parents that she needed to go to hospital.

AMOEBA AND FOOD POISONING

“I was admitted immediately. When the test results came back, the doctor told me I had amoeba and food poisoning. My stomach was also inflamed from all the vomiting.”

Dr Bansar Kaul of Nairobi West said she had attended to about 40 students since Friday. They had symptoms similar to typhoid and protozoan infections.

At The Mater, three other students told a similar story. They were admitted on Sunday at around 4pm.
“The ladies came in pain, high fever and because they were losing fluids, we re-hydrated them and put them on antibiotics before admission for further investigations on the cause of the poisoning,” said Dr Muthoni Magayu, a medic at the hospital.

A statement from the university said the catering services had been outsourced but did not name the supplier.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof John Odhiambo, said: “The university canteen was tending to another event, which is why the students chose to use an external caterer. We have never had such an incident. We are investigating the matter.”
Results of samples of the food taken to the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute for testing are expected today.

The results will reveal whether the students were poisoned or suffered from a bacterial induced food poisoning
Strathmore is also expecting results from the hospitals where the students are admitted.

According to Alumni Delegation Manager Constant Cap, the venue of the party had three entry points and access was only granted to those who had student passes and tickets to the event.

The food and drinks were handled by six members of the school staff. Mr Cap said the event ended at 11pm.
The university holds the alumni dinner for all Fourth Year students just after their final examination.