20 people hospitalized suspected of using water contaminated with herbicide

Recently, the Center for Disease Control of Dien Bien province quickly reported on the case from August 21-23, Hua Thanh commune health station received 6 people from 4 households in Co Puc village for examination with symptoms of headache, dizziness, vertigo, sore throat, and stomachache. After that, the patients were sent home for observation.

A working group from the Department of Health inspected the area where the water source was suspected to be polluted in Co Puc village, Hua Thanh commune, Dien Bien district. (Photo: CDC Dien Bien).

Then, on August 24-26, Dien Bien District Medical Center received 20 cases from the same village, who came for examination with similar symptoms, suspected of water poisoning. On the afternoon of August 28, 18 patients were in stable health and discharged from the hospital. Currently, two cases are still being monitored at the center.

According to initial verification by the Dien Bien Department of Health, on August 17, workers of the Nam Co Hu Hydropower Plant sprayed herbicides along the water collection pipe system from Nam Khau Hu Lake to the unit's power generation facility. The location of the lake (with water pipes for 5 households) is parallel to the hydropower plant's pipeline, within the radius of the herbicide spraying.

After the incident, the center took samples from the scene to test and assess the water quality. During this time, the Department of Health recommends that people temporarily not use water sources suspected of being contaminated until the test results and conclusions from the authorities are available.

Authorities have not yet announced what type of herbicide the workers at the Nam Co Hu Hydropower Plant sprayed. However, pesticides and herbicides are chemicals used to kill or control pests such as insects, weeds, fungi, bacteria, rodents, fish or any other type of organism that causes problems.

Pesticide contamination of drinking water is a fairly common phenomenon, especially in agricultural areas, where streams and water sources near sprayed areas tend to be highly contaminated.

Thu Phuong

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/dien-bien-20-nguoi-nhap-vien-nghi-dung-nuoc-nhiem-thuoc-tru-co-post262440.html