Relatives of the 124 victims of adulterated fentanyl in Argentina demand justice: This is an unprecedented massacre'

"Many are dying, the relatives of patients admitted to the Italian Hospital in La Plata, about 35 miles south of Buenos Aires, whispered. It was early April, and everyone feared their loved one would be next. The situation was repeated in other medical centers across the country, but no one suspected that this string of deaths was being caused by clinical fentanyl contaminated with two highly resistant bacteria."

"Six months later, the number of deaths being investigated by the courts has now reached 124, and the executives of the two Argentine laboratories responsible for the production of clinical fentanyl are under investigation and in pretrial detention. The affected families believe the real number is much higher and are calling on the courts to investigate the entire chain of responsibility for this unprecedented health catastrophe."

"On Thursday, in the city of Rosario, the third-most populous in Argentina, a tribute was held at the foot of the Flag Monument. A white carnation for each of the 124 victims. Lit candles. Demands for justice. Signs bearing the photograph of Ariel Garcia Furfaro, owner of the Ramallo S.A. and HLB Pharma laboratories, and, in red capital letters, murderer."

Clinical fentanyl contaminated with two highly resistant bacteria caused severe respiratory illnesses and deaths in multiple Argentine hospitals beginning in early April. Patients admitted to intensive care units developed fatal respiratory conditions after receiving the drug. Six months later courts are investigating 124 deaths and have placed executives of two laboratories that produced fentanyl into pretrial detention. Affected families suspect higher casualty figures and demand a full inquiry into the production and oversight chain. Inspections at the laboratories found critical deficiencies by late 2024 that compromised drug quality and safety, leading to facility disqualification ordered three months after the inspection. Public tributes and protests have called for justice.

Read at english.elpais.com