Charge of negligence THREE people died on Saturday while on dialysis at Darb Negm Hospital in the Nile Delta governorate of Sharqiya. Thirteen other patients fell into a coma following a similar session. A number of infections were also reported. The patients are currently in Zagazig University Hospital receiving treatment. Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek opened an immediate investigation into the incident. The prosecution team seized equipment used during the session and detained 15 doctors, nurses and technicians working at the dialysis unit pending questioning. Hospital manager Fattouh Abul-Magd and the two heads of the dialysis and maintenance units have been suspended following a ministerial decree. They face charges of negligence. Abul-Magd was appointed manager just 48 hours before the deaths were reported. Health Minister Hala Zayed appeared before parliament on Tuesday to report on the incident. 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Forensic head resigned JUSTICE Minister Mohamed Hossam Abdel-Rehim on Sunday appointed Souad Abdel-Ghaffar Hassan as interim head of the forensic medicine sector and chief legal officer, succeeding Hisham Abdel-Hamid who submitted his resignation last week. Abdel-Hamid cited “the lack of a healthy working environment that enables me to carry out my work” as the reason behind his decision. Abdel-Hamid, who held the post since January 2016, is best known for his investigation into slain Italian student Gullio Regeni and more recently the death of two British tourists in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada in late August. Abdel-Rehim accepted the written resignation on Sunday with immediate effect. 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Ecoli the cause of death THE DEATH of a British couple in August at a Hurghada hotel was caused by an Ecoli infection, Egypt's Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek said in a statement last week. On 21 August John Cooper, 69, and his wife Susan, 63, from Lancashire's Burnley, died after falling ill while staying at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in the Red Sea city of Hurghada. Laboratory analysis of Cooper proved positive for Ecoli bacteria which caused acute intestinal dysentery, leading to a heart attack and death. The forensic report for his wife said that she died of haemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), likely also to have been caused by exposure to Ecoli as she was in the same room and eating the same food with her husband. Ecoli is a bacteria found in intestines of people and animals but certain kinds, caused by contaminated foods and drinks, can lead to severe intestinal infections. The couple's daughter Ormerod rejected the results of the forensic report and told BBC that further post-mortem examinations of her parents' bodies would be carried out in the UK, on direction from the Home Office. She said that she did not believe the symptoms her parents showed were consistent with Ecoli infection. In another interview with Sky News she said, “it is unheard of that someone dies of Ecoli in such a short space of time.” 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Backing the chairman MEMBERS of the Consultative Council of the liberal Wafd Party, headed by former foreign minister Amr Moussa, met on Friday to discuss the repercussions of a recent crisis that hit party ranks. Members, including leading Wafdists, announced their backing of decisions taken by the party chairman, Bahaaeddin Abu Shokka. The decisions, however, led several Wafdists to submit their resignations. Ahmed Al-Segini, a member of the Wafd's higher committee, also resigned. Last week, Abu Shokka dismissed Wafdist MP Mohamed Fouad and referred him to an investigation over allegations he violated the Wafd bylaws. According to Abu Shokka, Fouad submitted a draft personal status law to parliament and started a community dialogue on the issue without consulting the party. Abu Shokka added the draft does not represent the Wafd's official stance. However, a large group inside the party insisted the decision was made following a post by Fouad on his Facebook account criticising Abu Shokka's way of running the party. They noted the draft was fully approved by the party from the beginning and blamed Abu Shokka for making unilateral decisions regarding the dismissal of members. Abu Shokka was named Wafd chairman in March, succeeding Al-Sayed Al-Badawi. 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Twelve hurt in train accident A TRAIN derailed in Shebin Al-Kom railway station in the Nile Delta governorate of Menoufiya and collided with a bumper, leaving at least 12 injured, Health Ministry Spokesman Khaled Megahed said on Sunday. According to eyewitnesses, the driver escaped after the incident. Fifteen ambulances were dispatched to the station to help transport the injured to Shebin Al-Kom Hospital. Megahed said the injuries were not serious and included fractures and bruises. The Railway Authority has formed a technical committee to visit the site to determine the cause of the accident.
