Reuters AlertNet Lite - Two bodies test positive in Panama poison scandal

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Two bodies test positive in Panama poison scandal

17 Feb 2007 22:06:06 GMT
Source: Reuters

PANAMA CITY, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Two bodies in Panama have tested positive for a toxic chemical at the heart of a scandal over adulterated medicine made in government laboratories, a forensic scientist said on Saturday.

Panama declared a national epidemic alert in October after people began dying from an unexplained ailment that affected the renal system and caused neurological damage.

U.S. experts later identified the cause as cough syrups and other medicines tainted with diethylene glycol, a solvent that was used in place of a similar but more expensive chemical often found in liquid drugs.

While official statistics cite 51 deaths, authorities have received about 350 claims from people who say the tainted drugs may have been responsible for their relatives' deaths.

This week, the government dug up 12 bodies, with the first two to be fully tested having clear signs of diethylene glycol poisoning.

Jose Vicente Pachar, head of Panama's Forensic Institute, said the results showed 60 to 90 percent certainty of traces of the solvent.

"That is very significant," he told reporters.

Two other bodies were due for further testing and the remaining eight have yet to be tested.

Last month, prosecutors began an investigation into Health Minister Camilo Alleyne and other officials for their alleged responsibility in the 51 deaths by poisoning.

Families of the dead filed a criminal suit against Alleyne and the heads of the country's social security fund and called for their resignations.

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Last updated:Sat Feb 17 22:06:07 2007