In a tragic incident, eight children and an adult have died after consuming sea turtle meat on Pemba Island in the Zanzibar archipelago. According to authorities, over 70 people have been hospitalised.
In Zanzibar, sea turtle is a delicacy but it periodically results in deaths from chelonitoxism, a type of food poisoning.
According to Mkoani district medical officer, Dr Haji Bakari, as many as 78 people were hospitalised after the consumption of the delicacy. The hospital authorities confirmed that the victims had eaten sea turtle meat.
The adult who died late on Friday was the mother of one of the children who succumbed earlier, said Bakari.
According to studies, sea turtles or their eggs infected with zoonotic infectious agents include diarrhoea, vomiting, and extreme dehydration, which is several occasions has resulted in hospitalisation and death.
Chelonitoxism is a rare and potentially life-threatening disease that occurs due to consumption of contaminated sea turtle meat. There is no known antidote for chelonitoxism, but the disease can be prevented by avoiding the consumption of raw or cooked sea turtles.
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of the East African nation of Tanzania. In November 2021, seven people, including a three-year-old died on Penmba after consuming sea turtle. After the incident, many campaigns took place in the Islands urging people to avoid consuming turtle meat.
