Azhar's Food Poisoning Cases Rise to 161 - MOH

Azhar's Food Poisoning Cases Rise to 161 - MOH

Egypt's Ministry of Health said on Tuesday that the total number of food poisoned students has reached 161.

Preliminary investigations indicate that "bad tuna", served at the campus cafeteria, is behind the events.

There are no deaths reported so far, the ministry reaffirmed.

Food poisoning hit Egypt's top Islamic university on Monday evening, less than a month after a mass poisoning incident at the same university left more than 500 students hospitalized.

Top Azhar cleric Ahmed al-Tayeb has formed a committee to investigate the incident and punish those responsible for the negligence.

Clashes between angry students and security forces broke out late on Monday where students blocked a main road in protest against the incident and forces dispersed them with teargas.

Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Kandil said in a statement on Monday evening that he asked the health minister to visit the hospitalized students and asked the interior minister to begin an investigation immediately.