Some victims of a suspected chemical attack in Syria have symptoms consistent with exposure to a category of chemicals that includes nerve agents, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.
The UN health agency said the deadly attack in Idlib province Tuesday appeared to have involved chemical weapons, pointing to the “apparent lack of external injuries reported in cases showing a rapid onset of similar symptoms, including acute respiratory distress as the main cause of death.” “Some cases appear to show additional signs consistent with exposure to organophosphorus chemicals, a category of chemicals that includes nerve agents,” it said.
WHO said there was good reason to suspect a chemical attack, noting the dozens of patients admitted to hospitals “suffering from breathing difficulties and suffocation.” WHO warned that the capacity of hospitals in the surrounding area was limited and that many facilities had been damaged in the fighting. Emergency rooms in the area were overwhelmed, and many patients had been referred to southern Turkey, it said. AFP