A formal notification has been sent to the Haitian government regarding an incident in which 26 Haitian nationals, including two minors, were hospitalized after consuming contaminated juice. The incident occurred on Sunday, 1 December 2024 in Barahona province.
Diario Libre reports that according to the Haitian radio station RFM 104.9, the victims, who were employed at an onion farm in the neighboring province of Azua, were rushed to Taiwan Hospital in Azua after experiencing severe abdominal pain. The juice they had consumed was reportedly stored in a contaminated container.
In response to the incident, the Haitian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dispatched a consular delegation to Barahona to provide assistance to the affected individuals. The delegation has been in constant contact with the Dominican authorities as they work to determine the exact cause of the poisoning and hold those responsible accountable.
The Haitian Embassy has assured the public that it is working closely with Dominican officials to “shed full light on this unfortunate incident.”
The victims, primarily adult males with two minors, presented with a range of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, excessive salivation, and involuntary muscle contractions. Medical professionals diagnosed the poisoning as organophosphate-related.
Hospital director, Dr. Luis Edward Pérez, explained that the patients received immediate treatment with atropine, saline solution, and gastric wash.
Organophosphate poisoning occurs when a person is exposed to organophosphates, a type of chemical commonly found in pesticides.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
4 December 2024