Answering an urgent request from the People’s Committee of Quang Ngai Province, asking for assisting in tackling the baffling skin disease affecting large parts of the province, a mission team from the Military Chemical Institute arrived in Ba To District on April 20 and 21.

The mission team from the Military Chemical Institute under the Ministry of Defence worked with the People’s Committee of the district to find solutions to the cause of the disease.

Medical experts took samples of water, soil and searched for toxic substances in the area.

The team members also met with an elderly man, named Pham Van Mai, in Reu Village who had discovered a strange chemical substance. The man provided a clear location of the place where the chemical was buried.

Later they studied the daily activities of inhabitants as well as the place where the US army troops had been based during the war time.

After collecting the necessary information and samples, the team will study the environmental effects of the substances and their data before drawing conclusions.

Le Han Phong, chairman of the People’s Committee of Ba To District, said the local government had compensated each family of a dead victim with VND4.5 million and VND30,000 to each being treated at the local medical centre and the Quy Hoa National Leprosy Dermatology Hospital.

Deputy Health minister Nguyen Thanh Long said the health sector will strive to reduce fatalities and continue to provide treatment for this skin ailment in hospitals

Source: SGGP