SOME 120 students of the Johor government religious secondary school (SMAKJ) near Kluang were down with food poisoning yesterday.

They are said to have had fried noodles for breakfast at the school’s dining hall.

State health director Dr Aman Rabu today said the students are in stable condition after receiving outpatient treatment at Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital in Kluang.

“The state Health Department was notified about the food poisoning incident involving SMAKJ students at 10.20am yesterday.”

He said outbreak control measures were carried out the same day.

Checks showed that 120 of the school’s 474 students experienced stomach ache, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, headache and fever.

Dr Aman said investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the illness.

“The school hostel’s kitchen has been ordered to close temporarily under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 for the purposes of disinfection and further investigations.”

State Islamic Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Development Committee chairman Tosrin Jarvanti said the students have been given three days’ special leave, beginning today.

“The dining hall has also been ordered closed for 14 days to allow for further investigations,” he said in a statement.

Given this, he said, the school has been told to find alternative sources of food for students. – Bernama, January 14, 2020.