Still unknown is what caused mass poisoning in Decan

At least 428 patients have sought help at the main Centre for Family Medicine in Decani with symptoms of poisoning. Official suspicions of poisoning are in a branch of the water supply “Hirdrodron”.

The National Institute of Public Health (IKSHPK) has indicated on Monday that out of six tested water samples, in two of them have found suspicious colonies of bacteria.

However, according to IKSHPK director Naser Ramadani, tests must continue to take place in the laboratory, and the exact cause of this poisoning has not yet been determined.

On the other hand, the Peja Prosecutor has announced that he has launched investigations into the causes of this poisoning, while the Health Ministry has called on all residents of Decani not to consume water from “hydrodrini” until the cause of poisoning is determined.

Disturbing and vomiting were also engulfed by six members of the Lusaj family from the village of Shapout in Decani on Sunday, July 11th.

The water in the faucet of the house, supplied by the water supply, is not clean now for a week, and since Saturday, they have observed slight symptoms of poisoning.

It's been a few days since the water wasn't normally being clean, but it's a little confused. Some of the symptoms began Saturday evening, but I did not take them seriously. As my mind began on Sunday, vomiting, diarrhea... which also touched on all members of my family”, he told Radio Free Europe.

Lushaj is one of hundreds of residents of several villages in Decani, who experienced similar symptoms, raising alarms at the medical staff at the QKMF.

According to official data, concerns surfaced by residents of the villages of Derlep, Rastavica, Irzniq, Glogojan, Spurja, Gramachel, Babacoq, Ratisha and new Jasiq.

Even Zenel Kadrijaj from Rastica village told Radio Free Europe that recent days had noticed changes in the appearance of drinking water.

We have noticed that the highest color was in water, and the following night there was a large quantity of chlorine”, he said.

Kadrij said that his wife and daughter experienced more severe symptoms of poisoning.

The Decan Family Medicine Center since Saturday sounded the alarm for unusual numbers of patients with similar symptoms.

The director of the centre, Selmon Berisha, told Radio Free Europe that after announcing the National Institute of Public Health, they came and took water samples to do chemical and biological analysis.

“Chemicalal analysis has resulted in order, while biological analysis is in processing. Also, all the time we've engaged our lab and patients' tests result in bacterial poisoning”, he said.

Until the results of the recent analysis of this water have yet to emerge, since Sunday night, the regional water supply “Hidrodron” has made the disruption of water supply in areas suspected of mass poisoning.

The <x0-2>Hedrodrin” has appealed for caution, but saying that “until the results are achieved, nothing can be found in whitewashing allegations of poisoned water or not”.

Decani Community Chairman Bashkim Ramosaj at a media conference said they are making maximum efforts to find the causes of this poisoning, and so far all doubts are only hypothesiss.

According to him, they also have doubts about a deliberate scheme. He did not elaborate on this but said he must leave the investigative organs.