The victims showed symptoms consistent with Shigella infection,including diarrhea,fever,and abdominal cramps (Picture: Getty Images)

As many as 55 people – most of them schoolchildren – have fallen ill after eating falafel contaminated with human waste.

The incident happened in a restaurant in the town of Irbid,in Jordan,which which was then shut down ‘within hours’.

Early findings released by the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) confirmed the presence of poo in samples of the food that was served.

Both E. coli and Shigella – highly infectious bacteria that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness – were detected in the meals.

Dr Ayman Maqableh,the director of epidemiology at the ministry of health,said at least 42 students had sought medical care in hospitals and clinics last week,

Eight have been admitted for treatment,with three remaining under close observation,Gulf News reported.

The victims,aged between six and 14,showed symptoms consistent with Shigella infection,and abdominal cramps.

Health officials also confirmed that one of the restaurant’s workers tested positive for the same bacterium,raising the likelihood that he may have been a source of the outbreak.

The restaurant,which was licensed to prepare baked goods,had reportedly been closed by its original owner.

It was then rented to a local schoolteacher.

Without notifying regulators,he began serving falafel meals to students at two nearby schools.

The Jordanian ministry of health stressed that the situation was ‘under control’ and that treatment and monitoring protocols had been activated.