Haiti - FLASH : 26 Haitians poisoned in DR after drinking juice
26 Haitians, including 2 children, were poisoned after drinking fruit juice on a farm in Pedernales (Dominican Republic) where they were working. According to reports, a few minutes after drinking, they suffered from vomiting and dizziness, and were rushed to the Taiwan Regional Hospital in Azua.
The Taiwan Regional Hospital confirmed that it had received 26 Haitian nationals on Sunday, who came with symptoms of poisoning. According to Dr. Luis Edward Pérez, Director of the hospital, upon arrival at the hospital, the patients presented signs consistent with organophosphate poisoning, including nausea, vomiting, excessive salivation and involuntary muscle contractions.
Dr. Pérez explained that treatment with atropine, saline solution and gastric lavage was immediately administered. "Thanks to the team's quick action, everyone is stable and under observation.
"We continue to monitor the patients and provide the necessary medical care until they fully recover. We hope to release them in the next 24 hours," he said.
So far, it is not known how they prepared the juice or if it contained a toxic substance. The competent authorities are investigating the cause of this poisoning and the substance responsible.
