Only 8 of Sharqiya's poisoning cases remain in hospital - state agency

Sunday 26-04-2015 06:55 PM
Only 8 of Sharqiya's poisoning cases remain in hospital - state agency

A fisherman travels on a boat with his family during low water levels on the river Nile in Cairo, April 19, 2014. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

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CAIRO, Apr 26 (Aswat Masriya) - The 761 people who have shown signs of poisoning in the Nile Delta governorate of Sharqiya have been discharged except for eight, a local health official said on Sunday afternoon.

The people in hospital are stable and expected to be released within a few hours, said Sherif Makin, the state's deputy director of health in Sharqiya, according to state news agency MENA.     

People started showing signs of poisoning in Sharqiya on Friday and the latest cases to experience symptoms were three cases that were treated today. 

The reason behind the poisonings is unknown at this stage but prosecutors have launched an investigation.

Prosecutors heard people who have shown signs of poisoning, who offered differing accounts as to what may have caused their poisoning. They also heard statements from local water officials.  

Prosecutors ordered the speeding of the results of water samples being tested at the Health Ministry's labs.  

"Filtered" water is pumped to the areas in question.

The governor of Sharqiya stressed that water stations are routinely cleaned.   

He had previously ordered an urgent investigation into the spreading of rumours that drinking water in the governorate was poisoned.  

He added that if it is, however, proven that water coming from a government water station is behind the poisonings, all officials at the water company and station will be referred to prosecutors.

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