Banned pesticide caused death of Sharjah boy: Police

Sharjah - The pesticide used in the apartment is aluminum phosphide, which is banned in residential areas.

A banned pesticide that was used in a neighbouring apartment caused the death of a 10-year-old boy in Al Nahda, the Sharjah Police have said.
The family of Pakistani boy Khuzaimah, who died on Friday, is struggling through legal clearance to get his body released.
His father Shafi Ullah Khan Niazi said they would bury the boy in the UAE since they could not leave his twin sister Komal alone at the hospital. "It's been four days and we want to bury our boy. We have to do it here since his sister is still in serious condition."
Lt-Col Saeed Al Shamsi, head of the investigation team at Al Buhairah Police Station, said a team comprising officers from the forensic department and the Sharjah Municipality rushed to the building and found out that the toxic gas had emanated from a neighbouring apartment. The team broke open the door of the apartment, where the occupant had left the country for vacation after spraying pesticide and locking its door.
According to sources, the pesticide used in the apartment is aluminum phosphide, which is banned in residential areas.
Komal's heart has been affected after inhaling the poisonous gas and she is currently in the ICU of Al Qasimi Hospital.
"We want her transferred to Al Jalila Hospital in Dubai but there are some complications," he said.
On May 23, Shafi fell ill in the afternoon and had to break his fast. "By evening, my son also felt ill. He was dizzy and felt nauseous so we both went to the hospital where he was given a drip," said Shafi.
Later at night, his wife Arifa and daughter Komal also felt some uneasiness. "I left my son at home since he had been to hospital and we three went to the hospital," said Shafi.
"Upon our return at 5am, I found Khuzaimah had vomited and I gave him a glass of water and put him to bed," said the bereaved father.
By 7am, the family was up again after feeling uneasy. "Khuzaimah then came running into our room and said "Mum, Dad" and then fell unconscious," said Shafi.
By the time the ambulance came, he had already passed away. The family was taken to hospital and stayed in the ICU. Though Shafi and his wife were discharged on Sunday, Komal is still under observation. Shafi said that there were no fumes or smell that could alert them of the dangerous gas they were breathing in. "Authorities thought it's food poisoning," he said.
His wife is heartbroken over the loss of her only son who was born and brought up in Sharjah. The kids studied at School of Knowledge in Sharjah.
Girl's condition stable
Dr Safia Al Khaja, director of gynaecology and children's department at Al Qasimi Hospital, told Khaleej Times that the child arrived at the hospital dead while the girl was in a severe state of fatigue and suffered from a severe drop in the function of heart and vital organs and difficulties in breathing.
She added that the medical staff did necessary procedures and admitted the girl to the ICU. Her health condition is currently stable, but it will take several days for her to leave the hospital.
"When patients arrive in the hospital with symptoms of vomiting and severe fatigue, it is very difficult to distinguish initially between food poisoning or inhalation of banned substances due to similarities in symptoms," said Dr Al Khaja.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

Sharjah says online sale of banned pesticides a threat to residents' health
Afkar Abdullah
An official at the Sharjah Municipality said that following a number of deaths and illness cases caused by the use of illegal pesticides during the previous years, the civic body has taken stringent measures to regulate the operation of pest control companies. 
Intensified crackdown by the municipality had resulted in reduction of illegal companies by more than 50 per cent, he added. 
"The municipality has provided licence for 62 pest control companies to operate in the emirate. Major crackdown was conducted by the civic body on illegal companies using their contact details on the flyers and media advertisements. The pest control companies have also been asked to hire professional and experienced personnel. They are also expected to have their offices and warehouses away from the city."
He said that pest control companies are banned from using sprays inside homes unless they get prior approval. In a recent meeting held by the department, the pest control companies operating in the emirate were given a list of the authorised pesticides that can be used. The companies are not allowed to use chemicals that have not been tested and approved by the municipality.
However, according to the official, the illegal companies are bypassing the regulations by selling illegal pesticide online. "Unfortunately, many people buy the pesticide online or through social media platforms without knowing its risk or danger and they use it in their own without referring to the civic body or hiring an approved company.
In this case, it seems that the Egyptian owner of the flat sprayed the pesticide and went on vacation to his home country."
The official said that the municipality will continue awareness campaign to alert the customers of the danger of buying pesticide online. The municipality has recently carried out awareness campaigns on the danger of hiring illegal companies and use of banned substances. The pest control section has put up stickers in buildings in Arabic, English and Urdu and educated watchmen to not allow unauthorised companies to provide services to the tenants.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah