Irbid: Ministry of Health teams on Thursday recorded 11 suspected food poisoning cases among students at the Yarmouk University Model School in Irbid Governorate after several students exhibited symptoms of gastroenteritis. The affected students received treatment at a private hospital, while one student was admitted for observation.
According to Jordan News Agency, Director of the Epidemiology Department at the Ministry of Health, Ayman Maqableh, stated that epidemiological investigation and rapid response teams, in coordination with the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), launched an inquiry into the incident. This followed reports linking meals served at the school to stomach cramps and suspected food poisoning cases.
As a precautionary measure, the JFDA temporarily closed a restaurant contracted to supply meals to the school's cafeterias pending the outcome of the investigation. The JFDA highlighted that the sale of meat products in school canteens is prohibited, and operators are required to adhere to approved health standards.
Maqableh mentioned that specialized teams collected food samples from the school cafeterias and the restaurant for laboratory testing. They also obtained samples from cafeteria and restaurant staff to verify compliance with health and safety regulations and identify the source of the suspected contamination.
He added that the school was evacuated as a precaution pending the completion of laboratory tests and official investigations. Preventive measures were also implemented to protect students and staff.
In a separate statement, Yarmouk University said it continues to monitor developments and emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of students and employees. The university urged the public to rely on official sources for information related to the incident.