CAIRO, Apr 24 (Aswat Masriya) - The number of people who showed signs of poisoning in Egypt's Nile Delta governorate of Sharqiya rose to 379 by Friday afternoon, the health minister said. 

Of those hospitalised, 192 were discharged after they became stable, Minister Adel el-Adawi told state news agency MENA. 

Adawi said it will take three days at least before the results of tests conducted on the patients are out. He added that the ministry will not rely solely on the results of testing drinking water.

"Filtered" water is pumped to the areas in question.  

Earlier today Sharqiya's Health Ministry Deputy Sherif Makeen said food and drinking water samples were sent for analysis to identify the source of poisoning.  

Meanwhile, the governor of Sharqiya has ordered an urgent investigation into the spreading of rumours that drinking water in the governorate was poisoned.  

He added that if it is, however, proven that water coming from a government water station is behind the poisonings, all officials at the water company and station will be referred to prosecutors.