75 Killed In Mozambique After Taking Local Beer
Seventy five people have been reportedly killed in Mozambique following consumption of local beer.
The Mozambican health authorities confirmed on Wednesday, November 4, that contamination resulted in the beer tragedy Chitima, Tete province, in the northwest of the country in January.
It was earlier speculated that the poisoning were intentional, however, the ministry’s disclosure disproves all speculation.
Xinhua news agency reports that the results of tested samples from the drink, locally known as “Pombe”, were made public on Wednesday in Maputo by the Ministry of Health.
The tests were done in the United States, after South Africa failed to determine the causes of the deaths.
Ilesh Jani, the director of the National Health Institute (INS), who presented the results at a news conference, told newsmen that the investigation into the samples started immediately after the deaths, as well as the treatment of those who faced signs of the intoxication, such as vomiting, weakness, fever and nauseous.
He said: “The cases and deaths which took place at Chitima resulted from intoxication.”
Pombe is a local traditional beer made of maize flour, drunk in tradition ceremonies across Mozambique, including weddings, lobola, birthdays, among others.
According to the Chitima authorities in the Cahora Bassa district, 265 people had drunk the contaminated Pombe.
The samples showed the existence of strong toxic acids in the locally brewed beer.
Authorities said deteriorated flour containing bacteria called “burkholderia gladioli” was to blame for toxins found in the drink.
The police had arrested a man suspected of poisoning the drink, but later released him due to lack of evidence.
Local reports say that among the dead were the owner of the drink and her daughter.
A similar case of deaths from local brews occurred in Nigeria, the incident claimed the lives of over 60 people. The deceased were said to have consumed a local gin popularly called “Ogogoro”.