DAMASCUS, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- More than 240 people suffered food poisoning in Syria's eastern city of Deir al-Zour, with most discharged after treatment, the state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV reported Sunday.
Citing the provincial health directorate, the broadcaster said the cases exceeded 247 and the patients received at Deir al-Zour National Hospital and al-Shahid Ahmad Huweidi Hospital.
Medical teams treated all those admitted, and most were discharged with prescriptions and medical advice, while some remained under treatment and observation, the directorate said.
Earlier Sunday, provincial health director Nasr al-Khalaf told state news agency SANA that 227 cases had been recorded, with symptoms ranging from mild to moderate.
Al-Khalaf said Saturday that patients experienced vomiting, diarrhea and fever, according to local media.
He said two restaurants in the city had been closed as a precaution, and samples of food and water had been collected for testing to determine the source of contamination.
Health and consumer protection authorities were investigating the incident, with further measures to depend on the laboratory findings, Al-Khalaf added. ■
