Authorities reported a tragic incident on Saturday, revealing that eight children and one adult lost their lives, while 78 others were hospitalized on Pemba Island within the Zanzibar archipelago. The cause: consumption of sea turtle meat.
Despite the known risks associated with chelonitoxism, a form of food poisoning linked to sea turtle consumption, the people of Zanzibar still regard turtle meat as a delicacy.
According to Dr. Haji Bakari, the medical officer of Mkoani District, the adult who passed away on Friday was the mother of one of the children who had already succumbed to the poisoning. The consumption of
turtle meat occurred on Tuesday prior to the tragic events.
Laboratory tests conducted subsequently confirmed that all victims had indeed consumed sea turtle meat.
Responding to the crisis, authorities in Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, mobilized a disaster management team under the leadership of Hamza Hassan Juma. Juma issued a plea to the public, urging them to refrain from consuming sea turtles to prevent further tragedies.
This unfortunate incident isn’t isolated. In November 2021, Pemba Island witnessed a similar event where seven individuals, including a 3-year-old, lost their lives after consuming turtle meat, with three others requiring hospitalization.
