Updated at 5.45pm with health authorities statement

A suspected food poisoning outbreak at Mater Dei and Karin Grech hospitals is being investigated by the authorities after dozens of patients developed symptoms and were taken ill.

Sources told Times of Malta yesterday that public health inspectors were looking into the meals provided at the two hospitals after patients complained of stomach cramps and vomiting following Thursday’s evening meal. An estimated 30 patients were taken ill at Mater Dei, while sources said that patients in seven out of nine wards at Karin Grech had also been affected.

In a statement this afternoon, the health authorities said the situation was stabilising, with cases recovering and only a few new cases being reported today.

The hospitals, they said, are taking full infection control measures.

The health authorities said an in-depth investigation was carried out at the supplying caterer and the necessary control measures were taken, including the removal of all prepared food and full disinfection of the premises.

Food for today’s meals was accepted by hospitals after the caterer issued a declaration that all food was prepared after full disinfection, and a re-inspection was carried out to verify this.

Follow-up inspections are being carried out during food preparations to ensure good food safety practices. Further sampling was carried out, including stool samples, food samples, and environmental samples.

In separate statements yesterday afternoon, Mater Dei and Karin Grech hospitals confirmed that a number of patients had been diagnosed with sudden onset gastritis “over the past hours”.

As a result, several wards at both hospitals have since been closed to new admissions.

It was not yet certain yesterday whether the patients who reported feeling unwell had in fact suffered food poisoning, but investigations were pointing to this as the most likely outcome.

The same caterer provides hospital meals to both Mater Dei and Karin Grech hospital

The same caterer provides hospital meals to both Mater Dei and Karin Grech hospital, which is now being run by Vitals Global Healthcare. Sources yesterday said health inspectors had been sent to run tests on the food production facility.

The caterers do not provide food to other hospitals but it is not yet known if they cater for any other State facilities.

Patients at Mater Dei Hospital told the Times of Malta that around an hour after eating their evening meal on Thursday, they experienced sharp cramps which persisted until yesterday morning.

One patient said he had been surrounded by others with a similar reaction to the food provided at the hospital.

Hospital staff were sent round different wards asking patients what they had eaten for dinner to try and establish what may have caused their symptoms.

“They asked and I told them that I had vegetable soup and pork. There are a number of different options on the menu so I don’t know what it could have been,” a patient said.

Patients at Karin Grech reported similar symptoms and, while it wasn’t clear how many patients were suspected to have suffered food poisoning, sources said ‘isolated cases’ had spread throughout the building.

Back in 2006, some 45 cases of gastroenteritis affecting patients and another two affecting members of staff were reported at St Luke’s Hospital.