“Referring to what has been circulated in some local media outlets concerning the death of two children for unknown reasons, the relevant authorities in the Ministry of Public Health said that they received a report Friday noon (Oct 18) about the death of two children from the same family, suspected of eating contaminated meal or exposure to a toxic chemical,” the statement added.

“Immediately on receipt of the communication, the epidemiological investigation team, as well as members of the Health Toxicology Commission, in charge of such cases, visited the building where the affected family resides, for inspecting the place and taking samples of the remaining food in addition to environmental samples in coordination with Investigation Department at the Ministry of Interior,” Ministry said.

The Ministry stated that the preliminary results of the medical tests, and after reviewing the medical history and medical examination, showed that the children were suspected of being exposed to a chemical or insecticide.

The Ministry confirmed that it had not received any reports of food poisoning through the hotline of the Department of Transitional Disease Control, indicating that until the completion of the final measures from all sides, precautionary measures were taken at the family’s residence to ensure the health and safety of all.

On Friday, two children, 3-1/2-year- old Rehan Haris and 7-month-old Rida Haris, had died of unknown causes. Their parents Haris and Shameema, originally from Feroke and Nadapuram of Kozhikode district of Kerala, India, was also been initially admitted into critical care. They are now out of danger.

Both parents are working as nurses in Qatar. Upon the news of children’s death, their grandparents and relatives have flewn into Doha.  An Indian newspaper reported the burial will also take place in Doha.