Egypt Daily News – In a deeply distressing incident that has shaken the village of Delga in the Deir Mawas district of Minya, Upper Egypt, six children and their father lost their lives under mysterious medical circumstances that initially baffled authorities and residents alike. The symptoms appeared sequentially, claiming the lives of the children from youngest to oldest, and raising questions about a possible poisoning.
Now, the case has taken a dramatic turn as toxicology experts uncover the cause. Dr. Mohamed Ismail Abdel Hafiz, Professor of Toxicology at the Faculty of Medicine at Minya University, has revealed that the deaths were caused by exposure to a lethal pesticide known as chlorfenapyr, a chemical commonly used in agriculture to combat pests.
Dr. Ismail, who personally supervised the treatment of two of the victims, Rahma and Farha, at the Minya Chest Hospital, explained that chlorfenapyr is a particularly dangerous compound. “This pesticide disrupts the body’s ability to produce cellular energy, leading to multi-organ failure and tissue death,” he said. “What makes it especially deadly is that it requires only a very small dose to be fatal, just half a gram can kill an adult and there is no known antidote.”
Because chlorfenapyr is relatively new on the market, traditional toxicology tests often fail to detect it. “This case posed a major diagnostic challenge,” Dr. Ismail added. “Initial lab results came back inconclusive, and the symptoms did not match common pesticide poisonings like those caused by organophosphates or carbamates.” Unlike those substances, which typically present with muscle weakness, vomiting, excessive salivation, and tearing, chlorfenapyr poisoning often begins with subtle signs before progressing rapidly to cardiac arrest.
He noted that the progression of fatalities from the youngest to the oldest, was likely due to differences in physical strength and immune resilience. “The toxin’s effects can be delayed, and symptoms may not appear until hours or even days later. But once they do, deterioration is swift and often irreversible.”
The key breakthrough in identifying the poison came through extensive consultation with toxicologists from Alexandria and Ain Shams Universities. Investigators compared the symptoms observed in the Minya case with a handful of rare incidents documented elsewhere in Egypt. One previous case in Beheira Province bore an uncanny resemblance. That connection ultimately led to the identification of chlorfenapyr as the fatal agent.
Dr. Ismail also pointed to a notorious 2017 mass poisoning case in Pakistan, where a cake laced with chlorfenapyr killed 31 people. “Such cases are exceedingly rare, but when they occur, the consequences are catastrophic,” he said.
In the Minya tragedy, Dr. Ismail recalled that both Rahma and Farha were initially stable upon hospital admission, prompting medical staff to allow their discharge. However, Rahma’s condition worsened rapidly after leaving the hospital, prompting deeper investigation into the poison involved.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Public Prosecution continues its inquiry into the circumstances of the deaths. Authorities have questioned the children’s mother, the father’s second wife, and the grandfather. Investigators are also examining the family’s home, collecting samples of food, water, bread, and even birds, in addition to reviewing any possible surveillance footage from the area.
The case has sparked widespread concern over the accessibility and handling of hazardous agricultural chemicals in residential settings. As forensic investigations continue, the village of Delga remains in mourning, awaiting answers and justice for one of the most heart breaking tragedies in its recent memory.
