Kuwaiti officials confirmed Tuesday, September 4, that bacteria were responsible for the death of millions of fish in Kuwaiti waters in recent weeks. "Breeding of the streptococcus bacteria, which was found in all samples of dead fish, was the reason," said Muhammad Al-Sarawi, cited by the official KUNA news agency.
"The test results for the moment rule out chemical pollution or any poisoning," said Sarawi, head of Kuwait's Environment Public Authority. Two thousand tons of dead fish have been washed up on the Kuwaiti coast in the last three weeks with more to come.
The Gulf Daily News reported Tuesday, September 4, that Bahrain had slapped a ban on imports of all fish from Kuwait and Iran after tests showed some to be contaminated with cholera bacteria.
"We have been informed that cholera bacteria has been found in some samples of fish sold in Kuwait and Iran," said Samir Khalfan, director of public health for the Gulf emirate. —(AFP, Kuwait City)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
