Egypt says 47 tourists got food poisoning at Red Sea resort

Egypt’s chief prosecutor has ordered the detention of three hotel workers pending an investigation into how around 50 foreign tourists, mostly Russians, got food poisoning in a hotel at a popular Red Sea resort and had to be hospitalized

CAIRO -- Egypt’s chief prosecutor has ordered the detention of three hotel workers pending an investigation into the food poisoning suffered by about 50 foreign tourists at a hotel in a popular Red Sea resort.

Public Prosecutor Hamada el-Sawy said in a statement late Sunday that the workers, including the hotel’s top chef, face accusations of endangering the guests’ lives. The workers denied the accusations, the prosecutor’s statement said.

The sickened tourists include 14 Estonians, 29 Russians and four from the Czech Republic. They were hospitalized after they had dinner over the weekend in the resort city of Hurghada, the statement said. Many have been discharged from hospital after their condition improved, it said.

Tourism authorities have ordered the closure of the hotel, suspended its director and revoked his work license.