Algeria - Epidemic of unknown origin at La Casbah - Investigations ongoing to determine the exact source of the poisoning

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News Edition 6.6.2013

Epidemic of unknown origin
Panic at The Casbah

Within the last 24 hours, several cases of poisoning which causes remain unknown have been reported in this county. To trace the sources of these poisonings, samples are taken for analysis of water, but also of various food products.

An epidemic of unknown origin caused a panic in the town of La Casbah and sparked a wave of fear among residents of the neighborhood of Algiers. Within 24 hours, several cases of poisoning have been reported to the polyclinic Lower Casbah, where a child is in a coma, " several citizens said. Information we tried to check with local officials. In vain. "Indeed, we have seen several cases of poisoning which we don't know the cause," says Abderrezak Djeribia, vice president of the environment in this county. However, he acknowledges that a seller of pastry which was the first to be singled out, and whose commerce has been closed yesterday. To deal with this dangerous situation, in collaboration with health services of the municipality, the health department of the province of Algiers, local officials have made samples for analysis of tap water and food from all butchers, restaurateurs and other food supply. Preventive water cut took place yesterday afternoon at the school of the town. Moreover, according to the Vice President of the CPA, "investigations are ongoing to determine the exact source of the poisoning."

A doctor from the health department contacted the clinic this morning, points to "prejudice" the neglect and lack of hygiene in this town. In the waiting room of the PCA, more than twenty people showed up Thursday morning during our visit to inform decisions made by local officials and the origin of this "epidemic." Some of our respondents say they suffer since yesterday colic, vomiting and diarrhea. However, at the time we go to press, biological analyzes of water and some food taken from some traders, not yet reached the hygiene of the common services, we noted the pre- maximum alert.
R.K

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Re: Algeria - Epidemic of unknown origin at La Casbah - Investigations ongoing to determine the exact source of the poisoning

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(APS) Thursday, June 6, 2013 17: 34

Intoxication at Casbah: water samples show no health risk (SEAAL)

ALGIERS - The water samples collected by the Company for Water and Sanitation Algiers (SEAAL) following poisoning recorded in the Casbah of Algiers by the health authorities of the wilaya of Algiers, present no health risk, reassured SEAAL Thursday in a statement.

Informed of poisoning during the evening of Tuesday, SEAAL was available to the authorities to carry out checks on water quality. For this purpose, samples were taken from the taps of people with symptoms of poisoning, said the company.

The results of the analyzes in the field include the presence of chlorine, then successively laboratory SEAAL "demonstrated that the samples showed no health risk both in the physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters," said the SEAAL.

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Re: Algeria - Epidemic of unknown origin at La Casbah - Investigations ongoing to determine the exact source of the poisoning

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News Edition 10.06.2013

The epidemic is spreading
What evil strikes The Casbah?

By R Khazini

Danger - A food poisoning has been reported since six days in the district of La Casbah. The causes are still unknown.

Fear has moved in this popular area that is left rumors. Polyclinic Lower Casbah received a large number of patients of all headaches, pain in the stomach and vomiting.

"It is characteristic of all food poisoning clinical picture," says the head of the center. Our presence on the scene coincided with the arrival of an ambulance carrying three sick members of the same family. "This has been going since yesterday, we constantly receive sick people that we relieve on site before being evacuated to hospitals in Algiers," says the same official. There are crowds to the El-Kettar hospital where cases deemed serious are kept under observation .

Parents are worried sick and it happens to some get upset because no one informed them on the state of health of their family, let alone the nature of the poisoning. A doctor who is willing to tell us about reassures everyone and said: "There is nothing to worry about. The worst is over and patients will return home today. " These assurances did not convince some parents that evoke the worst. "He just wants to reassure us. The reality is quite different. The daughter of my neighbor is in a coma. She is 3 years old, "says a woman thirty's who's mother is under observation since the beginning of this alert.

A woman complains of what happened to her daughter. "She missed her tray. She is very sick. It is certainly went home, but the tray it will wait until next year. " This lady came to El Kettar to inquire about the health of his eldest son also evacuated to the health facility. We wanted to have more information but neither the Department of Health or the Health Directorate of the Wilaya of Algiers have wanted to communicate on the subject. The Casbadjis afraid. And that's the rush on bottled water to avoid suspicious tap water. Yesterday, there were already more than a single bottle in all the shops in the Casbah. The people of this area do not know which way to turn. With no information on this intoxication "hit between 200 and 250 people," we say several sources at the El Kettar hospital. "We do not know the source of the poisoning. There are rumors of a pipe burst but no one was able to verify this information. We do what we can, "said the owner of a cafe which obviously does not work. A seller of fish covered market street Lyra is beside himself: he had to throw all his goods. "The rumor is very difficult in such circumstances. Panicking, people have thought it best sulking fish because it is the cause of this poisoning, according to rumors spread here and there. I had to throw three boxes of sardines. " Merchants pastry are also in the eye of the storm and customers are rare in this period. "I usually flows much salt cakes and pizza. Today I have not sold anything. " "I recorded a significant number of missing in my school. Parents preferred to keep their children because they are afraid for them and I understand, "says the director of the primary school attached to the Museum of Traditional Arts in Lower Casbah.

A CPA
In the absence of P / PCA and its subordinates are told we are "on alert at the headquarters of the Casbah", the Chief of Staff, Ms. Guettaf who gets to tell us that "since Wednesday last, local officials are on high alert to determine the causes of this epidemic. " Our interlocutor says, "we are waiting since last Thursday the results of laboratory tests of tap water and recovered at all merchants of common foods." To our question about the water cut in the common schools and not in the neighborhood, she briefly replied: "This is probably not the water that is the cause of this epidemic." The doctor of the health department of the PCA we tried to reach through the chief of staff of the PCA, has notified us estoppel. "As long as we do not have the necessary elements that determine the causes of this epidemic, we can not respond to the press."

General mobilization
The health services are hard at work and we noticed the authorized services (health, quality control and SEAAL) since the onset of symptoms. Water samples and various food products were collected. Early indications, intoxication is due to the consumption of cakes bought from a well known in the neighborhood baker. Last night and this morning, the inhabitants of the Casbah are still unclear and the cause of the poisoning is unknown. "We will ultimately find, but we must give us time. We must first analyze all the samples we collected, "said an inspector of quality control sent by the Ministry of Commerce.

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