A severe type of food poisoning known as chelonitoxism has claimed the lives of eight children and an adult on Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania. The cause of the poisoning was traced back to the consumption of sea turtle meat, a local delicacy known for its potential to cause fatal food poisoning.
Dr. Haji Bakari, the Mkoani District medical officer, confirmed that the adult victim was the mother of one of the children who died. The tragic event occurred on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, when the victims consumed the turtle meat. Laboratory tests later detected the presence of chelonitoxism in all the victims.
The toxins in some sea turtles’ meat can cause chelonitoxism, which presents a range of symptoms from itching and mouth pain to severe neurological issues such as confusion, seizures, or even coma. This condition poses a significant threat to children, potentially leading to lasting effects like paralysis or other disabilities. Currently, there is no known cure for chelonitoxism, and treatment is limited to managing the symptoms.
This is not the first occurrence of such an incident on Pemba Island. In November 2021, a similar event resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including a toddler. Following the recent outbreak, Zanzibar authorities have sent out a disaster management team led by Hamza Hassan Juma, advising the public to avoid eating sea turtle meat to prevent further cases of chelonitoxism.
In many coastal communities, especially in Central America and Asia, sea turtles are considered a traditional source of nourishment. During the breeding season, hunters patrol the beaches at night to find female turtles laying eggs.
The hunters typically wait for the turtles to finish laying eggs before they harvest the animals, taking both the eggs and the turtles’ flesh. In some regions, sea turtle eggs are believed to have aphrodisiac properties, while in others, their meat is consumed during specific religious celebrations.
Before the global awareness campaigns about endangered species in the 1970s, Europeans often enjoyed turtle soup, a popular delicacy made from sea turtle meat. Different parts of the turtle, including its oil, cartilage, skin, and shell, are used to manufacture various products.
