Published Date: 2011-10-20 04:47:15
Subject: PRO/MBDS> Undiagnosed deaths - Cambodia: Kratie, RFI
Archive Number: 20111020.3127
UNDIAGNOSED DEATHS - CAMBODIA: KRATIE, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
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A ProMED-mail post
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
Date: Thu 20 Oct 2011Source: Phnom Penh Post [edited]
Four villagers died between Saturday [15 Oct 2011] and Tuesday [18 Oct
2011] and a number of others were hospitalised after drinking homemade
wine in Kratie's Snuol district.
Yun Hieng, police chief in Khsem commune, said on Wednesday [19 Oct
2011] that 3 women and a man died after they drank wine with a meal that
included meat from a buffalo that drowned on Saturday [15 Oct 2011]. He
added that the victims initially ignored the symptoms, which included
dizziness, diarrhoea and vomiting, and were not hospitalised until they
became very ill.
"They did not go to hospital until they were in serious condition, so
doctors could not save their lives," he said.
Village chief Lach Thong said that about 15 villagers drank the wine at
a funeral ceremony, with about 10 of them falling ill. 5 have been at
the hospital.
"It is difficult to conclude the reason for the death. We do not know
whether it caused by wine or disease due to unsanitary food during this
rainy season," he said, adding that the wine was imported from a nearby
village.
Chhneang Sivutha, director of the provincial health department, said
that his officials have been sent to the village to investigate but that
the cause of death has not yet been determined.
"Our health officials are investigating the scene, and we do not know
the reason for the death. Wine has been taken to be tested," he said. No
one has been arrested in connection with case, Yun Hieng said, adding
that a few pubs in the village were closed and its owners not found.
[Byline: Phak Seangly]
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Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS
[The newswire reports that 4 villagers in Kratie's Snuol district died
and a number of others were hospitalized after drinking homemade wine.
The village Chief also mentioned that 10 out of 15 villagers fell ill
after drinking wine at a funeral ceremony, and 5 have been hospitalized.
It is unclear whether the deaths were those villagers in the funeral
ceremony or not. The cause of death has not been determined yet.
However, the authority suspected that contaminated wine or disease due
to unsanitary food would be responsible for the deaths. Investigations
are being done and the wine has been tested but the result is not known yet.
Recently, there was a report of 7 fatalities and another 72 hospitalized
cases in Pursat province due to methanol poisoning from drinking rice
wine (see prior PRO/MBDS posting Methanol poisoning, fatal, rice wine -
Cambodia: Pursat 20111010.3038).
PRO/MBDS would greatly appreciate further information from knowledgeable
sources regarding the results of the investigation on these undiagnosed
deaths in Kratie province, Cambodia.
For a map of Cambodia with provinces, see
http://ephotopix.com/image/asia/camb...ovince_map.gif. For the
interactive HealthMap/ProMED-mail map with links to other recent
PRO/MBDS and ProMED-mail postings on Cambodia and neighboring countries,
see http://healthmap.org/r/1l_l. - Mod.SCM]