Nine Dead, 78 Hospitalized After Consuming Delicacy Despite Known Food Poisoning Risk
Authorities in the Zanzibar archipelago have reported that nine individuals have died and 78 others have been hospitalized after consuming sea turtle meat on Pemba Island.
Despite the occasional fatalities resulting from chelonitoxism, a form of food poisoning associated with sea turtle consumption, the meat remains highly sought after as a delicacy among the locals.
Dr. Haji Bakari, the medical officer for the Mkoani District, revealed that the latest casualty, an adult, was the mother of one of the previously deceased children. Consumption of the turtle meat occurred on Tuesday, with laboratory tests confirming its link to the victims' illnesses.
In response to the incident, Zanzibar authorities dispatched a disaster management team led by Hamza Hassan Juma, who emphasized the importance of refraining from consuming sea turtles. Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region within Tanzania, faces the challenge of mitigating the risks associated with this traditional but hazardous culinary practice.