Hundreds of Sidoarjo Islamic Boarding School Students Suspected of Food Poisoning, Ministry Says

The number of students suspected of food poisoning at Manba’ul Hikam Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo has continued to rise after they consumed meals provided through Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals program.

The Religious Affairs Ministry said 337 students had received medical treatment at hospitals around Sidoarjo. Basnang Said, the ministry's director of Islamic boarding schools, said the figure reflected the latest information received by the ministry's Sidoarjo office on Wednesday.

"The latest data from the Sidoarjo Religious Affairs Ministry office is 337. All the students have been treated at hospitals around Sidoarjo," Basnang told Republika. He said the total grew because some students initially showed no symptoms, then became weak and needed hospital care.

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The latest data from the Sidoarjo Religious Affairs Ministry office is 337. All the students have been treated at hospitals around Sidoarjo.

"The number of victims increased because the children initially had no complaints, but over time some students became weak and were taken to the hospital," he said.

The ministry coordinated with the local government, and joint ministry and regional teams had been at the site since Tuesday night. Data from the Sidoarjo Health Office showed a higher count: 424 students were listed as victims by 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, along with 24 people from outside the boarding school who were suspected of suffering a similar illness.

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The number of victims increased because the children initially had no complaints, but over time some students became weak and were taken to the hospital.