More Than 50 Students ‘Affected By Food Poisoning’

By Rob Dixon

Legal experts have called for the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and other authorities to work quickly to determine the cause of a suspected food poisoning outbreak at Oxford University which reportedly left more than 50 students ill.

The Daily Telegraph reports that undergraduates suffered symptoms including sickness and diarrhoea after attending the Mansfield College Ball on February 2nd.

It is thought that 55 cases of gastrointestinal illness have so far been reported to the HPA, which is working alongside Oxford City Council and staff at the University to further investigate the reported problems.

Students who have experienced symptoms have also been asked to contact medical professionals for samples to be taken.

Illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell specialise in helping victims of outbreaks in the UK and abroad to gain justice in respect of the health problems they have suffered. They notably represent people affected by major Legionnaires’ outbreaks seen in Stoke-on-Trent and Edinburgh in the past year.

Suki Chhokar, a Partner with vast expertise in illness claims at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Through our work, we have seen thousands of cases which have highlighted how victims of food poisoning can suffer severe short and long-term health problems as a result of illness.

“Because of this, reports of an outbreak of any scale should always be treated with the utmost seriousness.

“It is welcome to see that the HPA and other local authorities are working closely to determine the cause of the problems, which will no doubt lead to the gathering of significant information which can also assist in preventing further problems of this kind in the future.

“Students and their families will be concerned by these problems so it is vital that all steps are taken to ensure they are not seen again.”