Tragedy Strikes Pemba Island: Nine Lives Lost, 78 Hospitalized After Consuming Sea Turtle Meat

Zanzibar, The Gulf Observer: In a devastating incident on Pemba Island in the Zanzibar archipelago, nine individuals, including eight children and an adult, lost their lives after consuming sea turtle meat. An additional 78 people have been hospitalized, marking a grim consequence of the consumption of this traditional but hazardous delicacy.

Sea turtle meat, considered a delicacy by the local population, has a history of periodically causing fatalities due to chelonitoxism, a form of food poisoning associated with turtle consumption. The tragedy unfolded when the victims consumed the turtle meat on Tuesday, leading to a series of hospitalizations and, ultimately, the loss of lives.

Dr. Haji Bakari, the Mkoani District medical officer, confirmed that the adult who passed away late Friday was the mother of one of the children who succumbed earlier. Laboratory tests have substantiated that all victims had ingested sea turtle meat, pointing to its role as the source of the poisoning.

Zanzibar authorities have responded swiftly to the crisis, dispatching a disaster management team led by Hamza Hassan Juma. Juma, in an urgent plea to the public, urged people to abstain from consuming sea turtles, emphasizing the inherent risks associated with this practice.

This tragedy echoes a similar incident in November 2021 when seven individuals, including a 3-year-old, lost their lives on Pemba Island after consuming turtle meat, with three others hospitalized. The recurrence underscores the critical need for heightened awareness and preventive measures to protect the community from the dangers posed by the consumption of sea turtle meat.

As investigations continue and authorities grapple with the aftermath, there is a collective call for caution and public awareness to avert such heartbreaking incidents in the future.