The Ministry of Health said Tuesday that 497 Al-Azhar University students have come down with food poisoning after eating meals at the student hostel in Nasr City, adding that no deaths have been reported. Khaled al-Khatib, the ministry's director for emergency care, told state agency MENA that samples taken from 152 students hospitalized at the Demerdash Toxicology Center in Cairo have turned up negative for toxicity, adding that the patients had originally suffered intestinal catarrhs but have now stabilized. The Public Prosecution has ordered an investigation into the illnesses, according to Al-Jazzera Mubasher Misr satellite channel. Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb has also reportedly ordered an investigation in conjunction with the hostel's nutrition officials. MENA reported that several students from the university are staging protests near the student hostel in had reportedly also ordered investigation with the hostel's nutrition officials, directing for utmost care for the patients. State-run news agency MENA said several students from Al-Azhar University staged a protest at their hostel in Nasr City, demanding that Osama al-Abd, the university's president, resign and that Tayyeb intervene to improve services at the facility. The agency also reported that a Health Ministry delegation is scheduled to visit the hostel and inspect food safety measures. A similar case of food poisoning at the student dorms of Al-Azhar University was reported back in January, which likewise also drew protests from students.
