A total of 21 staff from a government clinic in Batu Gajah were rushed to the hospital on Monday due to suspected chemical poisoning, according to a report by The New Straits Times.
Perak Health director Datuk Dr Juita Ghazalie told the daily that the staff had been ill since the beginning of the month.
“They had experienced symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, headache and tightness in the chest,” she was quoted as saying.
Dr Juita added that initial investigations revealed that the symptoms were of chemical poisoning, very likely caused by cresol fluid – a type of disinfectant used in clinics – leakage within the clinic itself.
“Barrels of chemical stored at the clinic’s top floor had leaked and had spread through the concrete floor,” she told the daily.
The victims were reportedly rushed to the Batu Gajah Hospital for treatment.
“All are in stable condition, and none of them had to be warded,” she was further quoted as saying.
