139 ill in suspected food poisoning at Egyptian university

One hundred and thirty nine college students were sickened Wednesday by suspected food poisoning, Ahram Online reported Thursday.

The students, at Al-Azhar University's Assuit campus, developed high fever and vomited after dinner Saturday, Ahram quoted Health Ministry spokesman Hossam Abdel-Ghafar as saying.

Abdel-Ghafar said the students have been rushed to nearby hospitals and water and food material samples from the university are being tested.

A similar incident happened in April 2013, when 179 students at Al-Azhar University's main Cairo campus fell ill after eating rotten chicken, leading to the sacking of then Al-Azhar president Osama al-Abd. Enditem