Are local food hangouts near schools fuelling flu outbreaks?

In Bengaluru, the recent flu outbreak that reportedly affected 500 students and 21 staff members at Clarence High School has sparked a wider debate over the role of street food vendors op erating near schools. The school had suggested that the presence of several street food vendors in the vicinity, along with poor hygiene in the surround ing areas, could have been among the factors con tributing to the incident. The claim, however, has drawn criticism from the Greater Bengaluru Author ity (GBA) officials, doctors, medical experts, teachers and citizens, who argue that street food vendors alone are unlikely to have caused an outbreak af fecting 521 people.

While street food stalls and eateries are a common sight near schools across Ben galuru, experts say other factors, including close contact and the spread of seasonal infections, need to be considered. “Street food vendors could not be the only rea the risk of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria. son behind the illness, but yes, they could have been a contributing factor. Overcrowding, poorly ventilated spaces and even the sharing of objects such as water bottles could fa cilitate the spread of in fection”, said Dr Javeria Afshan, Consultant Physi cian at Asian Hospital. She added that poor clean liness and unhygienic conditions in and around the school could further increase the risk of infec tions.

Garbage dumps and stagnant water can serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing “One way flu could’ve spread through the street food vendors is through overcrowding around these carts, where children stand close next to one an other. Since flu is airborne, it can spread easily in such situations”, she said. She also pointed out that flu is seasonal and tends to cir culate more during certain periods of the year. She stressed the importance of children receiving annual flu vaccinations to reduce the risk of infection. Teachers said that schools regularly advise students against consum ing junk and street food, with many institutions also trying to ensure that ven dors do not operate too close to their campuses.

“We tell them not to eat junk and street food and encourage them to have fresh and healthy food. But how much can we restrict them? Once they leave school, they can eat wherever they want”, said a teacher from a private school. She also said it was unlikely that street food vendors were solely re sponsible for an outbreak affecting 521 people. “There is a higher possibility that a few children may have arrived at school while al ready unwell, after which the infection could have spread to others”, she said. However, she noted that dietary habits could indirectly play a role in children's susceptibility to illness.

“The increasing consumption of fast food and junk food among children may affect their overall immunity, poten tially making them more vulnerable to infections triggered by seasonal or environmental changes”, she said, adding that con suming food from outside, whether near schools or elsewhere, could cause illness if it is not fresh. The incident has therefore shifted the focus beyond street food vendors, raising questions about hygiene, ventilation, overcrowding, vaccination, dietary hab its and infection-control measures in schools.