Cluster of schoolgirl illnesses admitted to RG Kar; authorities investigating
At least 24 girl students from a Kolkata school were rushed to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Monday night after suffering fever, abdominal pain and vomiting, an official at the hospital said. The students were brought to the emergency department and remain under observation, with doctors describing their condition as stable.
Hospital sources said initial clinical assessments are being carried out to determine the cause of the simultaneous onset of symptoms. Health teams at RG Kar are conducting routine investigations, and the possibility of a food-borne or water-borne problem is being examined. An infectious aetiology has not been ruled out, the official added.
"The students are stable and are being monitored. We are conducting the necessary examinations to determine the cause of their symptoms," the official said, according to NDTV.
School authorities had not issued a statement at the time of reporting. Sources at the West Bengal Health Department indicated that Health Minister Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay could visit the hospital to take stock of the situation.
- Number of students: 24
- Symptoms reported: fever, abdominal pain, vomiting
- Facility: RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata
- Condition: stable and under observation
- Possible causes under consideration: food- or water-borne illness, infectious agent
Clinical and public-health steps under way
Doctors at the emergency department are monitoring vital signs, providing symptomatic treatment and collecting samples for laboratory analysis. Standard protocol in such cluster events is to isolate any infectious possibilities, test for common bacterial and viral pathogens when clinically indicated, and review recent food and water exposures at the school.
Public-health officials typically seek the following information in such cases:
| Area | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Clinical tests | Identify pathogen or metabolic cause |
| Food history | Trace any shared meals or vendors |
| Water supply check | Assess for contamination in school premises |
| Contact tracing | Find others with similar symptoms |
In Kolkata, where monsoon-related water contamination and gastrointestinal outbreaks are recurrent public-health concerns, rapid response can limit spread and provide reassurance to anxious parents. School health and municipal agencies normally coordinate to inspect kitchen facilities, drinking-water sources and sanitation within the premises when a cluster is reported.
Local context and next steps
RG Kar, one of the city’s major government hospitals, has treated clusters in the past and is equipped to manage acute presentations. The West Bengal Health Department’s potential involvement, including a ministerial visit, indicates state-level attention to the incident. If tests point to an environmental source such as contaminated food or water, civic agencies including the municipal corporation and the school management will be expected to take remedial action and issue advisories.
Parents and guardians in Kolkata often seek immediate clarity in such situations; clear communication from the school and health department about test results, timelines and any required follow-up will be crucial. At present, medical management continues and investigations are under way to ascertain the cause of the sudden illnesses, NDTV reported.
The hospital official emphasised that all the affected students were being monitored and that further updates would follow as investigations progress.
