Pemba Island, Tanzania – A heartbreaking incident has unfolded on Pemba Island, Zanzibar, where eight children and one adult lost their lives after consuming sea turtle meat.
While sea turtle meat is seen as a delicacy locally, authorities have reiterated the dangers associated with it, as it can cause chelonitoxism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning.
The incident involved a group who consumed the turtle meat earlier in the week. Sadly, the adult who passed away on Friday was the mother of one of the children who died earlier. Medical examinations confirmed that all the victims had indeed eaten the sea turtle meat.
This is not the first time such a tragedy has struck the island. In November 2021, seven people, including a young child, died from similar causes after consuming turtle meat.
In response to this latest incident, Zanzibar authorities have dispatched a disaster management team and urged residents to refrain from consuming sea turtles.
