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Eight children and a woman died after consuming sea turtle meat on Pemba Island, in the Zanzibar archipelago.
Authorities added that another 78 were hospitalized on Saturday.
Despite being considered a delicacy by Zanzibar locals, sea turtle meat occasionally poses high risks of chelonitoxism, a type of food poisoning.
Sea turtles contain a sufficient amount of savoury fat and are often compared to veal in taste and texture.
Although the turtles may appear healthy, chelonitoxism can still occur even if its meat is handled hygienically, cooked carefully or boiled to form a soup; since all parts of the turtle can be potentially toxic.
Dr. Haji Bakari, the Mkoani District medical officer, confirmed that the woman who succumbed late Friday, was the mother of one of the children who died earlier, also as a result of the food poisoning. They had both eaten the turtle meat on Tuesday that week.
Bakari stated to The Associated Press, that ''laboratory tests had confirmed all the victims had eaten sea turtle meat.’’
Consequently, the authorities of Zanzibar directed a disaster management team led by Hamza Hassan Juma, urging people to avoid the consumption of sea turtles.
In a similar incident, in November 2021, seven people, including a three-year-old child, died on Pemba Island, as a result of eating turtle meat. Additionally, three others were hospitalized.
Initial symptoms generally occur within a few days of eating the turtle meat. These include itching accompanied by mouth and tongue ulcers, pain in the mouth and throat regions, as well as vomiting and abdominal pain.
In rarer instances, some experience neurological disturbances, seizures, coma and death. Those that survive chelonitoxism, can develop permanent disabilities, such as paralysis.
There are cases of pets who have also died as a result of eating contaminated sea turtle meat.
Treatment available is solely symptomatic, in the form of IV fluids, electrolyte replacement and respiratory support.
Advanced medical care is unfortunately unavailable in regions where the outbreaks occur.
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