Africa-Press – Namibia. THE partial test results of what could be termed the most significant food poisoning case in Namibian history, where a total of 16 family members from one household died after consuming pearl millet Mahangu flour, have revealed that there were no man-made poisons found in the victims’ blood and tissue.
However, food samples from the deadly Mahangu, consumed by the family, are yet to be sent to South Africa to determine the presence of any poison by the Namibian Police Forensic Science Institute (NPFSI), according to Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the national spokesperson of the Namibian police.
The incident, which occurred towards the end of May 2023, took place in the Kavango East region, specifically in Kayova village, sending shockwaves throughout the country.
The household is reported to have ingested a poisonous/toxic porridge made with pearl millet Mahangu flour and added dried and pounded fermented sediment from a homemade beverage/beer, locally known as ‘mundevere’, on 27 May, which they were given by a family member residing in the same vicinity. This consumption led to signs of food poisoning, including vomiting of brownish gastric contents, convulsions, recurring hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), loss of consciousness, coma, and restlessness.
In an interview with Informante’, Dr. Jean Kabangu, the Superintendent at Rundu Hospital, explained that the investigations into the deaths were conducted at two levels. Dr. Kabangu detailed that Rundu Hospital received patients referred from Nyangana Hospital, and their team also assessed the situation on the ground.
“Our samples included blood from the deceased, as well as tissue samples. As for the food itself, the police handled these samples. The postmortem results of the blood and tissue samples did not reveal any toxins,” Dr. Kabangu stated.
He concluded that the 16 family members died from kidney and liver organ failure.
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