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More than 100 inmates at an open penal institution in Sakarya province fell ill with suspected food poisoning after dinner, with local reports suggesting tuna fish consumed during the meal may have been the source of the illness that affected 123 prisoners.
The incident occurred at the Ferizli district open prison facility, where inmates began reporting nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fatigue following the evening meal. According to local media reports, prisoners had consumed tuna during dinner, and the seafood dish is believed to be the likely cause of the widespread illness.
Prison medical staff initially treated 71 people in the facility's infirmary, while five were transferred to area hospitals for evaluation. As the night progressed, additional inmates developed symptoms consistent with foodborne illness, prompting authorities to transport patients to multiple hospitals across the city for treatment. Medical officials indicated none of the affected prisoners faced life-threatening conditions.
Inmates who complete medical treatment are being returned to the correctional facility following discharge from hospitals. The open penal institution, a lower-security facility that houses inmates nearing the end of their sentences or those convicted of less serious offenses, maintains an on-site medical unit staffed to handle routine health concerns.
Food poisoning outbreaks in institutional settings can spread rapidly due to shared meal preparation and dining facilities. Common bacterial culprits in seafood-related incidents include Salmonella, Vibrio species and Staphylococcus aureus, though the specific cause of this outbreak has not been confirmed.
Prison officials have not yet released information about whether an investigation into food preparation protocols has been launched or confirmed the source of contamination.
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