Biological Hazards - Food Poisoning

Al-Azhar University students angered by a mass outbreak of food poisoning protest as an ambulance carries an ill student to hospital in Cairo. Their signs read: “Down with the administration of negligence” and “the corrupt university”. Picture: AP
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| 02.04.2013 | Biological Hazard | Egypt | Governorate of l Qahirah, Cairo [Al-Azhar University] |
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Biological Hazard in Egypt on Tuesday, 02 April, 2013 at 11:02 (11:02 AM) UTC.
| Description | |
| A senior Egyptian health ministry official says nearly 500 students from Cairo’s Al-Azhar university have been admitted to hospital with food poisoning. The official, Khaled el-Khateib, said Tuesday that all 479 food poisoning cases came from the university’s dormitories in the capital’s Nasr City district. The poisonings occurred after a meal served at the dormitories on Monday. Al-Azhar students plan a protest outside the university’s offices later on Tuesday. On Monday, hundreds of students angered by the incident demonstrated outside the residence halls, blocking roads and chanting slogans against the university’s management. The university belongs to Al-Azhar mosque, the world’s foremost seat of Sunni Muslim learning. Beside religious studies, the university awards degrees in sciences and humanities. Egypt’s top prosecutor on Tuesday ordered an investigation into the case. | |
| Biohazard name: | Mass. Food Poisoning |
| Biohazard level: | 2/4 Medium |
| Biohazard desc.: | Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV. “Routine diagnostic work with clinical specimens can be done safely at Biosafety Level 2, using Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures. Research work (including co-cultivation, virus replication studies, or manipulations involving concentrated virus) can be done in a BSL-2 (P2) facility, using BSL-3 practices and procedures. Virus production activities, including virus concentrations, require a BSL-3 (P3) facility and use of BSL-3 practices and procedures”, see Recommended Biosafety Levels for Infectious Agents. |
| Symptoms: | |
| Status: | confirmed |
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Nearly 500 students at Egypt’s Al-Azhar University in hospital with food poisoning
- From: AP
- April 02, 2013 11:23PM

An Egyptian student from al-Azhar University receives treatment at an ambulance in Cairo, after nearly 500 uni students were taking to hospital with food poisoning. Picture: AFP Source: AFP
NEARLY 500 students from Cairo’s Al-Azhar University have been admitted to hospital with food poisoning, a senior health official said.
The official, Khaled el-Khateib, said that all 479 food poisoning cases came from the university’s dormitories in the capital’s Nasr City district.
The victims were taken to several hospitals in Cairo. Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi visited students being treated in one hospital overnight.
The poisonings occurred after a meal served at the dormitories on Monday.
Food poisoning is not uncommon in Egyptian university dormitories, where basic hygiene standards are often not observed, but the latest outbreak is the biggest in years.
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- Nearly 500 students hit with food poisoning in Egypt university (issahwuni.wordpress.com)
- Egyptian students rampage after hundreds suffer food poisoning (timesofisrael.com)
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- Rage at Al-Azhar University over food poisoning (dailynewsegypt.com)


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