60 Wits students hospitalised ‘after eating at one dining hall’
The University of Witwatersrand has confirmed that a group of students living in the Park Town residence were admitted to hospital on Sunday evening.
Emergency services were called to the residence after complaining of shortness of breath.
ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring says approximately 170 students were assessed and some 60 were transported to hospital.
“On arrival, emergency workers found that numerous students aged 18 and upwards had already evacuated the buildings and were now crowding the sidewalk and street.
“Medics set up a triage area and began to tend to the patients, assessing approximately 170 people. After the assessments, medics transported roughly 60 patients to nearby hospitals in the area,” says Meiring.
Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel says the students are all back on campus.
“The university can confirm that a group of students from one of its university clusters in Park Town presented with similar symptoms last night. They were all treated and are recovering well. They are all back on campus and we are keeping an eye on them but the students seems to be doing very well this morning.”
She says an investigation has been launched into the cause of the illness.
“We are investigating the source of what caused the symptoms. We don’t have anything concreate yet, but we are investigating it and we should have answers later today. It does seem that they all ate one dining hall and we are looking into that with care at the moment.”
The dining hall has since been closed.
ALSO READ
