Thiruvananthapuram: Three more people, who consumed seafood at a hotel in Vizhinjam, sought medical treatment at a private hospital on Wednesday. Two Kollam residents who had consumed food at the same establishment had died on Tuesday.The new patients, residents of Thiruvananthapuram, aged 52, 39 and 28, were admitted with mild symptoms and were reported to be in a stable condition. However, their identities are yet to be revealed. Following the incident on Tuesday, authorities sealed the hotel and launched an investigation. Collected food samples are currently being analysed, and results are expected in the coming days. Pathology reports of the deceased are also awaited before any definitive cause can be established. Kovalam food safety officer Priya Wilfred said that mussel samples were collected from the hotel. The samples will be sent to food safety department’s laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram and Central Institute of Fisheries Technology laboratory in Kochi for detailed examination, including testing for toxins. Meanwhile, officials inspected 21 hotels in the Mukkola area and issued notices containing hygiene guidelines. They said inspections will be conducted again in the coming days. While initial statements described the deaths were due to suspected food poisoning, preliminary assessments suggested the possibility of allergic reactions, underscoring that no conclusive cause was yet confirmed. Several others are believed to have dined at the hotel without incident and authorities continue to examine all evidence as part of the probe.
