The ambulance arrived at the family in Flocoasa village of Cantemir district in seven minutes, but the parents refused hospitalization, signing a document by which they assumed responsibility for the possible consequences, Minister of Health, Labor and Social Potection Silvia Radu was quoted by IPN as saying.
Answering journalists’ questions in a news conference, Silvia Radu said the Ministry is investigating this tragic case. Three children presumably died from aluminum phosphate poisoning, while two adults are in the hospital and their state is stable. Self-medication is dangerous and the grownups should be more responsible when children are involved. “It is very sad when we have such serious situations and hope the parents will be more alert in the future and will seek medical assistance in emergencies,” stated the minister.
The National Food Safety Agency announced that it also examined this case of poisoning. Immediately after the first reports, specialists of the District Division, in concert with representatives of other bodies, travelled to the scene and ascertained that 7-8 tonnes of wheat were kept in the yard and a high dose of fumigant was used there without taking protection measure.
Two sisters aged four and eleven and their cousin aged eight died in the hospital on October 30. The girls’ mother and the grandmother of the three children remain in the toxicological section of Saint Trinity Hospital of Chisinau.
According to the preliminary version, the family inhaled insecticide vapors after the grandfather of the three children treated the wheat with insecticide, the grain being kept in the veranda close to the room were the children and the two women slept. The insecticide contains aluminum phosphate that is very toxic. The family called an ambulance in the evening of October 28, but they refused to be taken to the hospital. An ambulance was called again next morning. The youngest girl suffered a cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated. Her sister died shortly afterward. Their cousin was rushed to Chisinau in a critical state, but died the same evening.
