JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s National Department of Health identified a “chemical agent” as the likely cause of death after six children died from food poisoning in Naledi, Soweto, a government official said on Monday.
“After careful analysis, the investigation team concluded that we are dealing with a chemical agent,” said the department’s spokesperson Foster Mohale, adding that it must be identified as a matter of urgency.
Mohale said the department deployed an investigation team of 80 members, with environmental inspectors and health inspectors from the National Department of Health and the City of Johannesburg, as well as law enforcement members trained by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.
The deployed team began its investigation on Monday, while the exact cause of the accident remains unclear with the probe continuing.
On Oct. 6, six children, aged between six and nine, died at local clinics after eating “snacks” from a local tuck shop in Johannesburg’s western township of Soweto.
XINHUA
