Two people have died and a third remains in critical condition in Holguín after ingesting food prepared with nitrite salt, an industrial preservative that was mistakenly used in the kitchen of a family in the Reparto Ramón Quintana.
The Provincial Health Department of Holguín confirmed the events this Wednesday in a statement released on social media.
According to health authorities, on Tuesday night Yaneisi Peña Escobar, 37 years old, prepared a meal that was also consumed by her mother, Clara Suárez Rodríguez, 63 years old, and her stepfather, Manuel Fernández Fernández, 65.
The three were urgently transferred to the Vladimir Ilich Lenin Provincial General Hospital.
Yaneisi arrived at the hospital in a coma and requiring mechanical ventilation, after experiencing intense sweating and convulsions.
At noon this Wednesday, according to the official statement, she was "awake, conscious, cooperative, separated from the ventilation equipment," although she continues to be reported as critical under intensive treatment.
His mother and stepfather did not survive. Both were admitted to the Emergency Intensive Care Unit with severe neurological deterioration and a sluggish progression. Despite resuscitation efforts, they died due to severe pulmonary edema.
Authorities report that Yaneisi worked as a domestic employee in a nearby house where a processed meat production center operated.
From that place, not identified by health authorities, he is said to have obtained the saltpeter, although the statement acknowledges that "it is unknown how he acquired the saltpeter from there, which he used for the preparation of the food."
The health system of Holguín and joint forces of MININT stated that they are investigating the case to clarify all elements.
The Provincial Health Directorate stated in its communiqué: "We regret these painful losses that could have been avoided and we join the sorrow of family and friends."
Saltpeter—potassium nitrate or sodium nitrite depending on the context—is an industrial preservative used in sausage production that, in inappropriate doses, can cause methemoglobinemia: a condition that prevents blood from carrying oxygen and can lead to seizures, cyanosis, pulmonary edema, and death.
The product visually resembles table salt, which can lead to accidental confusion.
This month it was also reported that dozens of people suffered a food poisoning in Pedro Betancourt, Matanzas.
The affected individuals arrived in large numbers at the local polyclinic with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and general weakness after consuming food at a private establishment in the municipality.
In total, the local polyclinic attended to 30 patients, of which 11 were referred to higher specialized medical centers: eight children to the Eliseo Noel Caamaño Pediatric Hospital and three adults to the Jovellanos Hospital.
The foods consumed by those affected were yellow rice with sausages and chicken in sauce, prepared at a private establishment, according to the official statement, which did not disclose the name of the venue.
At the end of August in Santiago de Cuba, 52 people were treated and 18 hospitalized following a similar incident of mass food poisoning.
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