The state news agency IRNA reported that on the evening of Tuesday, October 20, 250 people were poisoned after consuming "contaminated food" at a mourning center in the city of Chalous, with "134 individuals" hospitalized in local hospitals and medical centers. This report comes as Mojtaba Khaledi, the spokesperson for the national emergency services, stated that 185 people sought medical attention due to the incident, and currently, "only 14 individuals" are hospitalized. According to IRNA, citing "informed sources," one elderly man among those hospitalized is in intensive care, while the condition of the others is reported to be stable. The news agency stated that the cause of poisoning was the consumption of a meat stew that had been "cooked hours before distribution and kept outside the refrigerator." ISNA reported that Mojtaba Khaledi mentioned that currently, 14 of these individuals are under "supervision" in the hospital, but there are no concerns about their condition, and they are expected to be discharged within a day or two. Khaledi noted that the results of sampling and the definitive cause of the poisoning will be announced next week, adding, "Until we receive the test results, we cannot definitively state whether the donated food caused the poisoning or if there was another factor involved." He also mentioned that the number of food poisonings during this year's Muharram has seen a "significant decrease," stating that apart from this incident and another case involving about 30 people, there have been no other reported cases. Khaledi's statements come after Mehdi Shafiei, head of the disease control group at the Kerman University of Medical Sciences, reported on Friday, October 24, that over 240 residents of the "Andohjard" area in the Shahdad district of Kerman province sought hospital treatment due to poisoning from donated food. Group poisoning incidents due to contaminated or expired food have repeatedly occurred in various regions of Iran. For instance, in July of this year, 46 students traveling from Qom to Mashhad were poisoned after consuming "spoiled food."
250 People Poisoned in Chalous
On October 20, 250 people were poisoned in Chalous after consuming contaminated food at a mourning center, with 134 hospitalized. The incident highlights ongoing issues with food safety in Iran, particularly during religious observances.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
On October 20, 250 people were poisoned after consuming contaminated food at a mourning center in Chalous, leading to 134 hospitalizations. The food in question was a meat stew that had not been stored properly.
- The poisoning incident involved a large number of people, indicating a significant public health concern.
- Food safety issues during religious observances have been a recurring problem in Iran.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has faced multiple food poisoning incidents, often linked to improper food handling, particularly during religious events when communal meals are served.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%