68 Students Hospitalised Eating Contaminated Meat

68 Students Hospitalized After Consuming Contaminated Meat in Embu

Sixty-eight students from St. Thomas Aquinas Igumori Secondary School in Mbeere South, Embu County, are undergoing treatment in different hospitals due to suspected contamination from cow head meat.

The students, all in Form Four, experienced severe stomach pains and diarrhea, which led to immediate medical attention.

The alarming situation arose after lunch, with several students reporting abdominal discomfort.

Teachers and staff quickly transported them to a level 3 hospital for treatment, while five students were referred to Embu level 5 hospital for additional care.

School principal Paul Mwaniki informed journalists that only Form Four students were affected, as others who consumed regular meat showed no signs of food poisoning.

“Earlier today, an incident was reported with students suffering from stomach aches and diarrhea. We slaughtered a bull on Wednesday morning, and the entire school, including staff, consumed it. The head was boiled at night and served to the candidates yesterday,” he explained.

“Until yesterday, we received no complaints from those who ate the red meat and intestines on Wednesday. However, around 5 am, I was notified that 11 students were experiencing stomach pain. I quickly took them to the nearest hospital, but the number soon exceeded 40, which was overwhelming.

He suggested that contamination may have occurred during the preparation of the cow head meat.

Despite the concerning situation, Mwaniki reassured parents and the school community that there was no need for panic, as medical staff acted promptly.

“The final count was 68 students. They received treatment, and three were referred to Embu General Hospital for further care; they are responding well and are stable,” he stated.

“All students at the private hospital have been discharged and are returning to school, although 10 remain at Ketioe Health Centre for additional observation. “

According to the principal, initial reports indicated possible contamination, and samples were collected for further testing to identify the contamination source.

Embu County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Health, Jamal Runyenje, reiterated Mwaniki’s statements, confirming that all hospitalized students were stable.

He assured parents that there have been no fatalities and that medical teams are monitoring the situation closely.

“We are collaborating with the school and health experts to prevent such incidents in the future,” he added.

Meanwhile, county health officials have begun an investigation into the matter.

They are reviewing the school’s food storage and preparation methods, as well as the specific meat supplier, to determine if negligence contributed to the contamination.