By Hadi Fornaji.
Derna, 1 July:
A mass bout of food poisoning has broken out in the eastern city of Derna, believed to . . .[restrict]have been caused by contaminated chicken.
Forty-eight people are said to have been admitted to Derna’s Wehda Hospital with food poisoning over the past two weeks, with all but one having recently consumed chicken at the Al-Alam Al-Arabi (Arab World) restaurant, a well-known eatery in the city.
“Three of my children came down with diarrhea and vomiting after eating chicken shawarmas at the restaurant, and the son of my friend has also suffered the same symptoms”, said Fawzi Nuri, a local resident.
“I understand that many others have also been sent to the hospital with food poisoning. The authorities should urgently form a body to ensure high hygiene standards at all restaurants and bakeries in Derna”, he continued.
One of the doctors treating the patients at the hospital confirmed that all the patients admitted to the hospital with symptoms of food poisoning had eaten at the Arab World restaurant, with the exception of one, who had contracted food poisoning at a different restaurant.
“All of the patients, including children and adults, have been running high temperatures and suffering from diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. These are definitely cases of food poisoning”, she said.
None of the patients admitted to hospital have died, but some – mostly children – are being kept under observation whilst treatment is carried out.
A mother accompanying her children to the hospital also reported that her three children had contracted food poisoning from the restaurant. “Some of these restaurants have very poor hygiene standards”, she said. “They are using meat which is unfit for human consumption.
Mohammed Alwani, another local restaurant, said that the Arab World restaurant had been closed by the authorities and an investigation was now underway.
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