In a tragic incident on Pemba Island in the Zanzibar archipelago, authorities have reported the deaths of eight children and one adult, along with 78 individuals being hospitalized, after consuming sea turtle meat. The incident has raised concerns about the dangers associated with the consumption of this delicacy, despite its popularity among the local population.

The adult victim who passed away on Friday was identified as the mother of one of the children who had succumbed earlier in the week. According to Dr. Haji Bakari, the Mkoani District medical officer, the sea turtle meat was consumed by the victims on Tuesday, leading to their subsequent illnesses and tragic outcomes.

Laboratory tests conducted on all the victims confirmed that they had indeed ingested sea turtle meat, a delicacy commonly enjoyed in Zanzibar. This consumption, however, periodically leads to chelonitoxism, a type of food poisoning, and unfortunately, it proved fatal in this case.

In response to the incident, authorities in Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, have dispatched a disaster management team led by Hamza Hassan Juma. The team is urging the public to refrain from consuming sea turtles, in an effort to prevent further health risks and loss of life.

This tragedy is not an isolated incident. Just last month, in November 2021, seven individuals, including a three-year-old child, lost their lives on Pemba Island due to consuming turtle meat. In addition, three more people were hospitalized as a result.

The danger posed by the consumption of sea turtle meat has been highlighted through these unfortunate incidents. While it is regarded as a delicacy by Zanzibar's population, the periodic outbreaks of chelonitoxism and the ensuing loss of lives underscore the need for increased awareness and caution.

Authorities are now working to educate the population about the risks associated with consuming sea turtles, emphasizing the importance of avoiding this potentially fatal practice. Measures are being considered to address the sale and consumption of sea turtle meat to prevent further tragedies.

As Zanzibar mourns the loss of nine lives and seeks to prevent similar incidents in the future, the focus is on raising awareness and implementing strict regulations to safeguard the health and well-being of the island's inhabitants.