Scientific tests are being carried out to determine whether a number of medical staff at Mater Dei Hospital who fell ill were suffering from food poisoning.

Three doctors and some 20 nurses and midwives fell ill with gastroenteritis in the past days, and the fear is that the cause was hospital food.

A spokesman for Mater Dei said, however, it was difficult at this point to say with any degree of certainty whether the alleged problems resulted from food poisoning. "The hospital has taken steps to mitigate the possible effects of such a problem and to avoid further spread.

"We are also establishing the extent of the alleged problem," he said in a statement.

The Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses yesterday expressed concern about the fact that a number of its members had fallen ill. The union was informed of 40 nurses and midwives who fell ill with gastroenteritis on Tuesday and yesterday, but there could be others with the same symptoms who had not contacted the union.

The Medical Association of Malta has been informed of three gynaecologists who fell ill.

The hospital spokesman said the situation only referred to staff meals and there were no problems with the inpatient meals which were supplied by a different contractor.