Two University Employees Die in Santiago de Cuba After Consuming Counterfeit "Alum" Sold on Streets

Two employees from the University of Santiago de Cuba lost their lives after ingesting a street-sold product falsely labeled as "alum." This substance was, in fact, an industrial bleach stolen from the Mar Verde warehouses, as reported by the official Communication Assembly Santiago Cuba social media profile.

Alum, known chemically as potassium aluminum sulfate (KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O), is commonly utilized as a coagulant in water treatment processes. Its primary role is to aggregate and settle suspended particles to clarify the water before consumption. However, it is not an agent for disinfection and should never be ingested directly.

Dangerous Deception in the Streets

The official warning highlighted that "unscrupulous individuals" had pilfered industrial bleach from Mar Verde's storage and were deceptively selling it as "alum bleach." This toxic product allegedly caused the deaths of the two university staff members and poses a significant threat to the community at large.

This alert comes amidst a public health crisis in Santiago de Cuba, following the destructive passage of Hurricane Melissa nearly a month ago, which severely impacted the water infrastructure. Since then, water reaching households has been laden with sediments and has a dark brown hue, prompting many residents to seek alum to purify it.

Warnings Amidst Scarcity

Due to the scarcity of alum in official channels, opportunistic individuals have resorted to selling counterfeit versions on the streets, exploiting the public's urgent need. Authorities have urged residents not to purchase or use "alum" and to visit a healthcare facility immediately if they experience symptoms of poisoning or discomfort after using water treated with the product.

This incident once again underscores the vulnerabilities within the water distribution system and the lack of sanitary regulation in eastern provinces, exacerbated by the hurricane's aftermath. Meanwhile, families in Santiago continue to struggle to make the murky water delivered to their homes safe to drink, amidst shortages and lack of official support.

Improvised Solutions and Growing Concerns

Some residents have turned to makeshift solutions, such as placing cloth, often gauze, over faucets to act as an improvised filter. Others rely on filters that were sold years ago in foreign currency stores, though replacement parts have long been unavailable under the regime.

In numerous cases, people resort to boiling water when electricity is available, or use charcoal or wood stoves, despite the unpleasant taste these methods impart. Nevertheless, these efforts fail to remove impurities effectively.