1 dead, 38 hospitalized after consuming ‘poisonous’ meat

KERICHO,Kenya, Aug, 24 – One person succumbed to complications brought about by the consumption of uninspected meat in Kericho county on Monday while 38 others were hospitalized.

According to Dr. Sabina Sambu, a medic at the Kericho county referral hospital, the patients were brought in after complaining of stomach aches, high fever as well as diarrhea.

Two patients were Tuesday admitted at a special ward for further observation after their symptoms persisted while one young boy was admitted to the casualty ward.

“The group consisted of 28 women and 10 men. We are slowly releasing patients who are now in a stable condition however three are still under observation after reporting further complications,” said Dr. Sambu.

The victims told doctors they consumed the meat over the weekend after one of them bought a goat at a cheap price.

Doctors now suspect the goat might have been infected with a yet to be established diseases.

Kericho county referral hospital superintendent Dr. Jane Tum, has warned residents of consuming uninspected meat.

“It is wise to have meat inspected…let public health officers and veterinary officers inspect meat before you consume it…because you see it has brought about a lot of problems and if intervention was not brought earlier it could have resulted in a high mortality,” she said.

Most of the patients were experiencing diarrhea and a high fever,as well as mild dehydration.

“We started treating them on IV fluids and antibiotics,,,,,,unfortunately however one person died, a male patient, he was very sick, we thought he had underlying problems and after a few hours on Monday morning he died,”

The County health inspectorate is expected to conduct a crackdown on unlicensed butcheries in the country in order to avert future health disasters.