Mass Vomiting and Diarrhea in Weishi County, Henan; Officials Blame Rainwater Contamination of Water Source

(CNA, Taipei, 21st) In Weishi County, under the jurisdiction of Kaifeng City in China's Henan Province, a mass outbreak of symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea occurred among residents starting on the evening of the 19th. Patients instantly overwhelmed medical institutions, forming long lines, with the cause pointing to problems with the tap water. An official investigation later claimed that the issue was due to rainwater backflowing into a tap water source well, causing sudden drinking water contamination. The X platform account "Teacher Li Is Not Your Teacher" today reposted videos and screenshots indicating that on May 20th, multiple citizens in Weishi County, Henan, reported that students from several local schools were experiencing vomiting and diarrhea, and many adults also showed similar symptoms. Weishi County subsequently cut off the water supply, with some citizens suspecting problems with the local tap water. Videos showed that major clinics and hospitals in Weishi County were overcrowded, with patients waiting in long queues for treatment and medical staff working overtime to conduct examinations. A citizen seeking medical attention revealed that test results showed "excessive bacteria levels." The incident triggered a "water rush," with many citizens lining up at supermarkets to purchase bottled drinking water. According to a report by mainland media outlet Jimu News, long queues persisted at the outpatient gastroenterology department of Weishi County People's Hospital this afternoon. Over 90% of the patients were seeking treatment for diarrhea and vomiting. More than half of the patients were underage students accompanied by their parents. One student reported vomiting, diarrhea, several dizzy spells, and a fever. On the 20th, he vomited shortly after eating just a few bites of food, had no appetite, and was in poor spirits. According to the report, the hospital treated patients with IV drips and anti-diarrhea medication. Doctors denied the possibility of toxic substances, stating that patients had shown significant improvement after several days of treatment. The report mentioned that after the tap water in Weishi County was contaminated, some areas experienced water outages for over 24 hours. Various types of barreled water became a target for panic buying by residents. Xinhua News Agency reported today that a joint investigation team in Weishi County stated that on the evening of May 19th, some residents in the urban area of Weishi County experienced abnormal conditions such as vomiting and diarrhea. The investigation found that the cause was rainwater backflowing into a tap water source well after heavy rain on May 19, leading to sudden drinking water contamination and causing discomfort after consumption. The announcement stated that, to date, no moderate to severe cases have been reported among the residents who sought medical care, and they have been returning home after treatment. A comprehensive inspection of all active water source wells in the county revealed that apart from the one contaminated well, the water quality of the remaining wells was up to standard. The contaminated well has now been sealed, and operations such as draining and disinfecting reservoirs and water supply pipelines are underway, along with sample testing of the new tap water supply. Currently, the urban area...