Officials in Mexico report a salmonella outbreak affecting scores of among resident and highly specialized doctors at the General Hospital of Mexico ‘Dr. Eduardo Liceaga’.
In a Ministry of Health statement, the agency detailed that the event was identified on August 31 and that, according to available reports, 135 doctors presented symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, low-grade fever and vomiting.
In addition, as of September 3, 41 people remain hospitalized under surveillance and treatment, although all are in stable condition. 15 were in intensive care.
Health Minister Dr. David Kershenobich downplayed the reports that doctors were admitted to intensive care, saying on Friday that it was “not related to the severity of their symptoms, rather it was a matter of making available any space we had to receive the staff and hydrate them.”
The hospital has two cafeterias, one for health care staff and workers, and another for resident physicians, which is outsourced. Early analysis suggests contaminated eggs caused the infection.
The Health Secretariat indicated that, given the situation, the outsourced dining service for resident physicians was immediately suspended.
Doctors and residents at the General Hospital of Mexico agree that the hospital cafeteria already had a bad reputation due to poor hygiene and food quality.
On Friday, the Ministry of Health tweeted the following:
Tonight, the Secretary of Health, David Kershenobich; the Undersecretary, Eduardo Clark, and the head of the CCINSHAE, Carlos Hinojosa, accompanied by the general director of the General Hospital of Mexico "Dr. Eduardo Liceaga", Alma Rosa Sánchez Conejo, toured the hospital to personally verify the health status of the male and female resident interns hospitalized due to Salmonella.
All of them are stable, without serious symptoms, receiving medical attention and showing a favorable evolution.