General Hospital failed to notify UNAM about salmonella outbreak affecting students: “We found out through social media”

UNAM learned about a salmonella outbreak affecting 135 medical residents and fellows through social media, according to the director of its Faculty of Medicine. University officials then went to Mexico General Hospital to investigate and support the affected students.

“We found out through social media,” Ana Carolina Sepúlveda Vildósola told reporters after the presentation of the final report on the 2026-2027/1 undergraduate admissions process. She said hospital authorities had not formally notified the National Autonomous University of Mexico about the cases.

The hospital said it detected the outbreak on Aug. 31 after a sudden increase in gastrointestinal symptoms. Those affected mainly reported abdominal pain, diarrhea, mild fever and vomiting. By Sept. 3, 41 people remained hospitalized for monitoring and treatment, and all were stable.

Laboratory tests confirmed Salmonella spp. in the cases examined. Two patients also tested positive for a coinfection with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. The hospital said the cases were temporally associated with food supplied by its outsourced institutional cafeteria service, which it suspended immediately.

The hospital has begun epidemiological and sanitary investigations to identify the specific source of contamination and determine further prevention and control measures. UNAM’s graduate studies division said it would monitor the students’ health and coordinate with hospital authorities. It also provided a telephone number and email address for those seeking support.

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We found out through social media.