مأساة دلجا.. وفاة الطفلة رحمة خامس ضحايا المرض الغامض بالمنيا

In one of the most tragic and mysterious incidents witnessed in the Minya Governorate in southern Egypt, 12-year-old Rahma Nasr Mohamed passed away early this Wednesday, becoming the fifth victim from the same family in the village of Delga, which belongs to the Dair Mawas Center in the south of the governorate, following a struggle with mysterious symptoms that claimed the lives of her four siblings in less than a week.

Her sister Farha (14 years old) remains under medical observation at Minya Chest Hospital, amidst a state of anticipation and deep sorrow among the villagers.

The tragedy began on Friday, July 11, when the Minya Security Directorate received a notification from Dair Mawas Central Hospital about the arrival of three sibling children in a state of severe illness: Mohamed Nasr Mohamed (11 years old), Reem Nasr Mohamed (10 years old), and Omar Nasr Mohamed (7 years old).

The three children died in succession within a few hours, while their fourth brother, Ahmed Nasr Mohamed (5 years old), was admitted to intensive care but passed away on Saturday, July 12.

A few days later, specifically on Tuesday, July 15, the condition of the two surviving sisters, Rahma and Farha, deteriorated after they were discharged from Minya Chest Hospital to be presented to the Public Prosecution.

They were immediately readmitted to the hospital after showing similar symptoms, including a high fever, continuous vomiting, severe diarrhea, neurological convulsions, and disturbances in consciousness. Despite medical efforts, Rahma passed away early Wednesday, bringing the total number of victims to five children from the family.

The Public Prosecution in Dair Mawas, under the supervision of the Attorney General for the Southern Minya Prosecutions, has detained the children's father and mother for questioning, aiming to clarify the circumstances of the incident and ensure the presence of any criminal suspicion.

The body of the fourth child, Ahmed, was autopsied, and samples were taken for analysis at the Ministry of Health laboratories, while Rahma's body was transferred to the Minya Chest Hospital morgue in preparation for autopsy. Results of the samples taken from the two girls are expected to be released tomorrow, Thursday.

The prosecution summoned a forensic team to examine the bodies, while the Ministry of Health sent a preventive committee to the family's home to inspect the surrounding environment, including samples of water, food, and air, to check for any pollutants or toxins that may be behind the incident.

A medical source indicated that the CRP (C-reactive protein) test for the fourth child came back negative, ruling out the presence of an active bacterial infection such as meningitis, but did not exclude the possibility of food or chemical poisoning.

Meanwhile, the Minya Health Directorate issued an official statement categorically denying that the deaths were due to meningitis, confirming that the children were receiving their vaccinations regularly, which reduces the likelihood of contracting this disease.

The statement explained that the body's response to infections varies according to age and immunity, making the death of five children in close succession due to an infectious disease medically illogical.

The ministry confirmed that the preliminary diagnosis suggests the children suffered from acute illness due to unknown factors, noting that laboratory tests will determine whether the symptoms were caused by food poisoning, chemical poisoning, or another disease.

It added that the child Farha is still under observation in the toxicology department at Minya University Hospital, with psychological and neurological assessments being conducted to evaluate her condition.

Ali Mohamed, the children’s uncle, recounted the terrifying hours the family experienced, pointing out that the children were in good health before having a meal on Friday, after which they all, including the father and mother, fell seriously ill.

He added that Rahma's condition was extremely difficult, as she continued to suffer from vomiting and high fever until her death, and he was not allowed to see her in her final hours due to visiting restrictions at the hospital.

A state of shock and sadness prevailed among the residents of Delga, which has more than 150,000 inhabitants, and the villagers called on the authorities to quickly uncover the causes of the deaths and provide psychological and medical support to the grieving family.

Despite the Ministry of Health denying the meningitis hypothesis, the incident raised suspicions about the possibility of food or chemical poisoning, especially after the uncle's statements indicated that the family had a meal before the symptoms appeared.

Medical sources reported that acute symptoms, such as convulsions and loss of consciousness, could be linked to the children being exposed to a toxic substance, whether from food or the surrounding environment.

Reports indicated that investigations include examining water and food sources in the home, along with taking samples of the chemicals used in agriculture in the area, where Delga is known for its agricultural activity.

Criminal suspicion was also raised in some reports, as a medical source indicated that the absence of visible signs on the children's bodies complicates the preliminary diagnosis, prompting the prosecution to expand investigations to include any potential external factors; however, authorities have not yet confirmed any evidence supporting this hypothesis.