By KPC Reporter
At least thirty residents of Nyakeore village in Nyamira County have been hospitalized after reportedly consuming meat from a cow that had died of an unknown illness.
Public health officials said the patients presented with acute diarrhoea and were stabilised in hospital.
The Nyamira County Health Department confirmed the incident as an acute food poisoning cluster and said a disease surveillance team had moved in to conduct contact tracing and assess additional exposures in the community.
The department appealed to residents to promptly report any suspected food-poisoning cases linked to meat consumption.
West Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka in whose constituency the incident occurred urged strict adherence to meat-safety rules.
“I have learnt with deep shock and sadness that 33 residents… were hospitalised last evening after consuming meat from a cow carcass that had succumbed to an unknown illness,” Mogaka said in a statement sent to KPC.
“I extend my heartfelt sympathy to all those affected and wish them a quick and full recovery.”
Further, Mogaka urged residents to purchase meat only from certified vendors and to avoid food of unknown origin.
Local media reported that the exposure occurred when villagers ate meat from a neighbour’s cow which died from an unclear illness.
As of Friday, all patients were reported to be in stable condition following treatment at the Nyamira County Referral Hospital.
Kenyan law requires veterinary or public-health inspection of animals and carcasses destined for human consumption.
The Meat Control Act and related regulations empower inspectors to detain and destroy carcasses deemed unfit, and prohibit sale or distribution of uninspected meat.
Violations can attract penalties under the Public Health Act and Meat Control regulations.
Experts say that eating meat from animals that die suddenly carries risks ranging from severe gastroenteritis to zoonotic infections such as anthrax, which has been implicated in past outbreaks linked to consumption of carcasses in Kenya.