Al-Azhar University's dormitory director has been arrested following Monday's outbreak of food poisoning on the university's campus that affected 500 students, East Cairo Prosecutor Mostafa Khater said Thursday.

The defendant, who has been arrested for four days pending investigation, will be questioned over his alleged responsibility for distributing rotten food products, which led to the students' illness.

The university president, who was dismissed on Wednesday in the wake of the incident, also remains under investigation.

Egypt's health ministry, meanwhile, is conducting tests on the food products in question, the findings of which will be submitted to prosecutors.