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Tragedy struck on Panza Islet, Pemba Island, in Tanzania’s Zanzibar, as at least eight children lost their lives, while 78 adults fell ill after consuming sea turtle meat. The unfortunate incident was reported by Haji Bakari Haji, the Mkoani District medical officer, on Friday.
According to Haji, medical examinations conducted in a laboratory confirmed that the victims had succumbed to the consumption of sea turtle meat. The meat, which was consumed on Tuesday, resulted in severe illness among the adults and tragic fatalities among the children.
Shockingly, the incident was not reported to authorities until Friday, allegedly due to the fear of facing repercussions. This delayed reporting hindered the possibility of timely intervention that could have mitigated the impact of the consumption of the poisonous meat.
This is not the first time such a tragedy has occurred in Tanzania. In March 2023, a similar incident took place on Mafia Island in the Indian Ocean, where seven individuals lost their lives, and eight others fell ill after ingesting sea turtle meat.
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Juma Khatibu, the chairperson of Bweni village on Mafia Island, revealed that the victims had purchased the sea turtle meat from local fishermen. The meat, suspected to be poisonous, resulted in fatal consequences upon consumption.
These incidents underscore the risks associated with the consumption of sea turtle meat and highlight the importance of strict regulations and public awareness campaigns to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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