CAIRO: Contaminated water has killed one person and sickened more than 100 others in Al-Daqahliya province, according to police and medical sources. The ill were admitted to area hospitals over the last two days with symptoms including fever, stomach aches and vomiting. Many were released from the hospital after receiving treatment, but more than 50 remained hospitalized Friday, said a police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.A doctor at the Mansoura infectious diseases hospital told The Daily Star Egypt, on condition of anonymity, that all reported cases were in stable condition. The doctor said he was among those treating the patients. He added that two new cases have been admitted to the hospital Friday. Inshallah all cases will be released in three or four days, he said. The doctor revealed that the single fatality had died due to "extraneous conditions - the patient was diabetic. Meanwhile, health ministry spokesman Abdul Rahman Shaheen told local media that salmonella bacteria was found in the water and was responsible for the death. Salmonella can cause diarrhea and other flu-like symptoms but can be deadly unless infected people are treated promptly with antibiotics. Daqahliya s Governor Ahmed Said Sawan said the affect districts water supply would remain cut off until officials are able to fix the problem.
