‘Kidney disease bacteria’ news fake, says MoH

Reports circulating about an airborne bacteria infecting children in the Kingdom and causing kidney failure is inaccurate, the Health Ministry (MoH) said yesterday. A recent report that was circulated among the public, causing panic in them, said that eight children have been affected by the bacteria and all of them suffered kidney failures.

They stated that the disease was highly contagious and caused kidney failure among the children who breathed air contaminated with the bacteria. The ministry confirmed that the news was fake and no case of such a bacterial infection has been reported from hospitals in the Kingdom.

A source said the reports claimed that many children were admitted to Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) after suffering kidney failures caused by an airborne bacteria. The Health Ministry said that three children were admitted to SMC after suffering kidney failure but this was caused by eating contaminated food, especially red meat.

“The children underwent successful treatment at the hospital and one of them was even subjected to dialysis.” The Health Ministry has urged the public to verify the accuracy of information or reports before circulating them.