JEDDAH, 6 June — Four people died and seven others became seriously ill after consuming cologne in Makkah, press reports said yesterday.
The victims were taken to King Abdul Aziz Hospital in Makkah after they were taken ill but four people died and the others were receiving treatment.
Informed sources told Arab News that they might have been poisoned after taking contaminated cologne — a perfumed toilet water made of alcohol and aromatic oils.
Authorities have ordered an investigation into the incident.
Dr. Taleb Al-Hojaily, acting director of health in Makkah, said the hospital was providing proper care to the seven people still hospitalized. Two of them are in critical condition.
Al-Hojaily said it was not yet clear what was the actual cause of the poisoning. "We have taken blood samples from the affected people and sent them to the central laboratory for tests," he said, adding that the results will be known within two days.
Criminal investigators have also taken samples from the bodies of the dead to ascertain the cause of their death.
Dr. Wafa Al-Qaisy of the Maternity and Children’s Hospital in Jeddah told Arab News that people with weak immune system might be affected if they took considerable quantities of cologne and other perfumes.
"Perfumes are made of chemicals and other substances which might affect the body and blood of some people if they consume them in large quantities," Dr. Al-Qaisy explained.
