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Indian teen dies from infectious bacteria in Shawarma and over 50 hospitalized

The Alarabyia English reported, Indian national media reported that a 16-year-old fell sick and died after eating a shawarma from an eatery in the Indian state of Kerala on May 1, with the latest findings pointing at a shigella infection caused by bacterium of the same name.
More than 52 people reportedly fell sick after eating the popular Levantine dish from the south-Indian town’s local eatery on April 29 and 30.
The New Indian Express (TNIE) reported citing police, Devananda, the only fatality among the 52, had shawarma from the snack bar on both days.
However, all the sick required treatment with seven people in intensive care units across three hospitals. Their conditions are stable according to the district’s medical officer Dr. A. V. Ramdas, cited by TNIE.

The youngest patient is a two-and-a-half-year-old girl, and the oldest is a 39-year-old man.
The highly contagious intestinal infection is caused by “unhygienic, undercooked or contaminated food and water,” said the medical officer in the same report.
Diarrhea is the main symptom, he continued, adding that stomach pain, fever, vomiting, tiredness, and bloody excrement can also be evident.
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TNIE reported, while death is not common for an individual with the shigella infection, a weak immune system or the pathogen’s resistance to antibiotics can prove fatal.
The current hot and humid weather conditions in Kerala call for safer handling of food and its preservation, especially if it has animal origin, to prevent similar food poisoning incidents.
According to local media, police have reportedly arrested the owner and staff behind the eatery.
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TNIE reported that an angry crowd threw stones at the snacks bar and shattered its window panes and set on fire a van linked to the eatery.
The operation was reportedly unlicensed, prompting authorities to conduct strict inspections at eateries, including hotels and food outlets that may be operating in a similar fashion.
According to local media reports, news of the teen’s death also compelled Kerala’s neighboring state Tamil Nadu to crackdown on shawarma sellers who fail to maintain hygiene. In the initial inspection run, one shop was found to be without a license.
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While licensing is mandatory for restaurants under FSSAI (Foods Safety and Standard Act), including for streetside vendors, oversight is lax in most parts of the country.
In this instance that saw large public outcry, the Kerala state’s High Court initiated a public interest litigation (PIL) and asked authorities about the steps they have taken or will take to ensure food safety.
Source: alarabyiaenglish
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- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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