Google – AFP, 29 December 2012
Patients
who consumed toxic cough syrup receive treatment in a hospital
in Gujranwala on
December 29, 2012 (AFP, Arif Ali)
|
LAHORE,
Pakistan — At least 24 people, mostly drug addicts seeking a fix, have died
after drinking toxic cough syrup in an eastern Pakistani city, officials said
on Saturday.
The deaths
started occurring Wednesday in the industrial city of Gujranwala, some 70
kilometres (43 miles) north of Lahore, with most of the victims drug addicts
who took the syrup for intoxication, police and doctors said.
"At
least 24 people have died after taking an unknown cough syrup," local
health department official doctor Mah Jabeen told AFP.
"Seventeen
people died at hospital, while seven others were brought dead," she said,
adding that only five affected by syrup were now under treatment at hospital.
Local
hospital chief doctor Anwar Aman said some 54 patients were earlier brought to
hospital who said their condition deteriorated after taking cough syrups.
A man who
consumed toxic cough syrup receives treatment in a hospital
in Gujranwala on December
29, 2012 (AFP, Arif Ali)
|
The victims
were between 20 and 40 years old and a majority had a history of drug
addiction, Aman said, adding that so far the culprit syrup has not been
identified.
Senior
police official Azam Mehr confirmed the toll and said samples of cough syrups
available at local pharmacies have been collected and sent to laboratories.
"Police
and health department have started inquiries and investigations into the
deaths," he added.
Last month
at least 19 people were killed in Lahore after drinking toxic cough syrup.
In January
around 100 heart patients died in Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city, after
taking locally-made tainted medicine.
No comments:
Post a Comment