The General Directorate of Public Health in Santiago de Cuba denied this Tuesday that deaths had been recorded due to exogenous poisoning linked to the consumption of a supposed “alumina sulfate” used to clarify the turbidity of water.
Dr. Miguel Ángel Díaz Núñez, provincial director of Health, assured that there are no deaths due to this cause or serious or critical patients hospitalized due to poisoning, as circulated on social networks.
The official called on the population to stay informed through official channels and reminded that, although alum has properties to clarify water, its domestic use must be carried out with caution and following safety measures.
At the same time, Internet users like the journalist Cusco Tarradell They warned of the illegal sale of a counterfeit product such as alumwhich in reality would be a “bleach” stolen from Mar Verde warehouses and which represents a serious health risk.
Initially, the institutional Facebook page of the Assembly of Santiago de Cuba reported that two university workers had died for consuming the substance, but they later removed the publication and explained that it was not true.
The incident occurs in a context of concern about water quality in Santiago de Cuba.
Residents claim that the liquid arrives cloudy, which pushes many people to look for alternatives such as alum to try to improve its appearance.
Given this, several users on social networks urge local authorities and the company Aguas Santiago to guarantee more rigorous treatment and purification processes, in order to ensure drinkability and protect the health of the population.
