BATU GAJAH: A total of 21 staff of a government clinic here were rushed to hospital today due to suspected chemical poisoning.
Perak Health director Datuk Dr Juita Ghazalie said 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 said.
Investigations later showed that the symptoms were of chemical poisoning, caused by cresol fluid leakage within the clinic itself.
Cresol fluid is a type of disinfectant used in a clinical environment.
“Barrels of chemical stored at the clinic’s top floor had leaked and had spread through the concrete floor,” she said.
Those who displayed symptoms of chemical poisoning wree rushed to the Batu Gajah Hospital emergency department.
“All are in stable condition, and none of them had to be warded,” she said.