Tainted vinegar blamed for 11 deaths
Source: Xinhua |
August 23, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
POLICE yesterday blamed tainted vinegar for causing mass poisoning that killed at least 11 people and sickened about 120 others at a Ramadan meal in northwest China.
A six-year-old was among the dead in the incident in the village of Sangzhu, near the city of Hotan in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Friday, police said.
One person remains critical while the others are out of danger after hospital treatment.
An initial investigation found that villagers consumed vinegar from two plastic barrels that previously contained antifreeze at a late night Ramadan meal and felt sick the next day.
Tests have yet to confirm the source of poisoning, police said.
Police investigations are continuing.
Antifreeze commonly contains ethylene glycol, a toxic chemical that causes symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.
During Ramadan, Muslims eat in large groups at night after fasting during the day, and police say this is why so many were affected.
More than half Xinjiang's population of 21 million are Muslims.
During Ramadan, Chinese Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise until sunset. Children, the elderly and the weak do not have to fast.
China's Ministry of Health said that at least 45 people have died in food poisoning cases across the country in the first six months of 2011.
A six-year-old was among the dead in the incident in the village of Sangzhu, near the city of Hotan in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Friday, police said.
One person remains critical while the others are out of danger after hospital treatment.
An initial investigation found that villagers consumed vinegar from two plastic barrels that previously contained antifreeze at a late night Ramadan meal and felt sick the next day.
Tests have yet to confirm the source of poisoning, police said.
Police investigations are continuing.
Antifreeze commonly contains ethylene glycol, a toxic chemical that causes symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.
During Ramadan, Muslims eat in large groups at night after fasting during the day, and police say this is why so many were affected.
More than half Xinjiang's population of 21 million are Muslims.
During Ramadan, Chinese Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise until sunset. Children, the elderly and the weak do not have to fast.
China's Ministry of Health said that at least 45 people have died in food poisoning cases across the country in the first six months of 2011.
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