Stock image of a sea turtle.Photo:Getty
Getty
The outlet said they died from chelonitoxism, a type offood poisoningthat only occurs from eating sea turtles. The meat is considered a delicacy.
“Studies show that all parts of thesea turtleare potentially toxic. Symptoms can be as mild as nausea and vomiting to more severe forms of neurologic manifestations, coma and ultimately death.”
Pemba Island is part of Tanzania’s Zanzibar Archipelago.
According to Mkoani District medical officer, Dr. Haji Bakari, the adult who died was the mother of one of the children who had died from eating the turtle meat. Bakari told theAPthat laboratory tests confirmed that everyone who died had eaten the sea turtle meat.
Stock image of seat turtles on a beach.Getty
According to the National Library of Medicine, “as the pharmacology or chemistry of the toxin is still unknown, antidote or treatment to chelonitoxism is unavailable.” AsSky Newspointed out, only “supportive care” — such as intravenous fluids — can be offered.
In 2021,the BBCreported that local authorities had banned the consumption of turtle meat after seven people, including a 3-year-old, died from chelonitoxism.
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source: people.com
