Egypt is investigating mass food poisoning at the Al-Azhar campus in Luxor

Egypt’s Attorney General Mohamed Shawky Ayyad called for an immediate investigation on Friday after 89 female students suffered food poisoning at Al-Azhar University‘s dormitory Luxor.

The students were taken to Karnak Hospital with symptoms of vomiting, severe cramps and diarrhea after eating meals on the university campus.

Egypt Public Prosecution Service has taken testimonies from students and collected food samples from the university campus in an attempt to trace the source of the poisoning.

Al-Azhar University spokesman Ahmed Zare said in a statement that 60 students have been released from the hospital after checks, while others are still receiving treatment.

Zare said a week-long medical committee had been formed to ensure food safety. An investigation into the university campus kitchen was also conducted following a directive from the Vice President of Al-Azhar University for Upper Egypt, Mohamed Abdel Malek.

The incident was reported by students on social media, who shared their experiences.

“Help us… The girls on the university campus in Luxor are suffering from vomiting, diarrhea and severe intestinal cramps,” one student wrote on Facebook.

Another student wrote: “There were many cases of food poisoning and we did not get a response quickly, and the dean himself came to test the food. Help us, we are dying.”

Egypt has a poor food safety record, with frequent cases of food poisoning and low hygiene levels in many restaurants and public institutions.