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Woman dies, two fall sick after inhaling pesticide

A 35-year Filipina working in a ladies salon died on Wednesday after inhaling poisonous fumes from a pesticide emanating from an apartment next door after the property was fumigated.

Two Ethiopian women who shared the flat with the victim also suffered poisoning, with one in a critical condition and the other stable in hospital.

The apparent choking came after the chemicals were passed through the AC inlet of a neighbouring apartment.

Fujairah Police received a report from a hospital after three women, working at a women’s hair dressing salon, were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit suffering from poisoning, with one confirmed dead.

Investigations revealed that the trio were staying in a flat of a multi-storey building, and an adjoining flat was sprayed with pesticides. The occupants of the flat were advised to leave the premises for 48 hours due to the strong smell and dangerous chemical substances in the pesticides.

Investigations have been opened with the pest control company concerned to identify the type of pesticide used in the fumigation.

The pesticide will be tested at the forensic laboratory to identify the type of chemical used, and legal action will be taken against the firm if it is proven that they were flouting the law, using banned chemicals that affect human health.

Fujairah Police warned the public to exercise extra caution, and not to seek assistance in spraying pesticides unless by competent persons and companies. They have been advised to vacate the premises and ventilate it properly if pesticides are sprayed within the property. They have also been advised to put up a warning notice to inform neighbours adjacent to the property of the fumigation to avoid occurrence of such incidents.

This latest death comes in light of a number of related incidents which have claimed the lives of several people in the UAE, including children.

One such case dates back to September 2012 when three-year-old Egyptian Habiba died and her six-year-old brother was hospitalised after they inhaled aluminium phosphide following a fumigation which was carried out in a neighbouring flat.

The Sharjah Police arrested seven men in connection with the youngsters death and it was later revealed that they were running an illegal pest control service.

news@khaleejtimes.com