As many as 35 patients of the Institute of Mental Health, Erragadda, in Hyderabad suffered from alleged food poisoning on Monday. The patients are under treatment and are stable, hospital authorities said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Adequate hydration, electrolyte replacement and antibiotic therapy were instituted based on clinical assessment,” the hospital said. The patients are under observation.
“Food samples and water sources have been sent for microbiological testing and necessary hygienic measures have been reinforced within the hospital premises,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the hospital has denied claims that one of the patients, Karan (30), died of food poisoning. The statement said that Karan, who was referred to the hospital in 2023, died of cardiac arrest. “He had not complained of any gastrointestinal discomfort before he died. Based on the assessment, the patient had a mild cough, cold and fever, and may have developed bronchopneumonia, which might have led to cardiac arrest,” the statement said.
Attenders found the deceased patient “unresponsive” in his room on Tuesday morning, the hospital said.
Experts from Osmania Hospital are in charge of taking care of the patients who have taken ill due to food poisoning, the hospital’s statement said.
Minister for health and family welfare Damodar Raja Narasimha has reviewed the incident.
