8 children die, 78 hospitalised after eating turtle meat

Eight children were confirmed dead, while 78 others were hospitalized after allegedly consuming turtle meat in Zanzibar.

The incident took place on March 8, 2024 on Panza Island, in Mkoani District of the South Pemba Region.

Mkoani District medical officer Dr Haji Bakari confirmed the incident, adding that they were still working on samples taken from the victims to determine the exact cause of the unfortunate incident.

“We have taken samples to a government laboratory for further analysis to help determine the real cause of the problem,” Dr Haji told The Citizen.

“We took 86 people to the Abdalla Mzee Mkoani Hospital, 8 of whom were children who had already died. The others are in stable condition,” he added.

At the same time, Sheha of Panza Ward Haji Ali Shaali stated that area residents had claimed the victims consumed turtle meat, but police have launched investigations to confirm the allegations.

According to Miza Kombo Bakari who lost her two children in the unfortunate incident, she didn’t know what caused the death of her children.

She explained that the children were vomiting when they were rushed to hospital but they unfortunately died some hours later.

One of her children was two years and the younger was six months old.

“I was not at home when I received the news that my children were sick and vomiting. We took them to hospital, where they were given some treatment but they died a few hours later,” Miza explained.

She added that she was shocked by the high number of people, who are undergoing treatment and those who died at the same time in the village.

Meanwhile, a health worker Harub Makame Ali noted that the incident caused panic among area residents but local authorities were investigating the matter.

“I received a report yesterday morning that there had been a tragedy and that two children from one family had died.

“We prepared for the burial of the children, but before we could finish burying them, we received news that more children had died and that others were sick,” said Ali.

This is not the first time for people to die in Zanzibar after consuming turtle meat. Seven people died in 2021 on Pemba Island after consuming turtle meat.