DHAKA: Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) said that it was not the harmful chemical mixing in the watermelons in Kushtia and Manikganj.

IEDCR director Mahmudur Rahman came up with the observation while talking to banglanews on Monday.

He said Microbiological contamination after consumption of rotten watermelons was the cause of sick of 39 people in Kushtia and Manikganj districts.  

It is not harmful to consume watermelons available in the market. E Coli Bacteria had infected the rift watermelons and people fell sick by taking those, he added.

The physician said the watermelons were tested in the National Food Testing Laboratory.

He also said, “There was no formalin or artificial in those watermelons. They were rotten. The possible reason of the death is microbiological contamination.”

He suggested washing the watermelons before cutting.

BDST: 1712 HRS, MAY 05, 2014