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Twenty-one family members fell ill after consuming meat from a sick camel slaughtered on Eid al-Fitr. Health officials warn against eating medicated animals
In the Saaxil region of Somaliland, a tragic incident occurred when twenty-one members of the same family fell ill after eating camel meat. The family had slaughtered their camel on Eid al-Fitr, a common practice in Somali culture, but unfortunately, the meat was contaminated.
The incident happened in Himin village, where the family owned a camel that had fallen sick. Concerned about its health, they gave it medication in hopes of curing it. However, when the camel did not recover, they decided to slaughter it and use its meat for their feast, following traditional customs.
Dr. Ismail Hussein Abdullahi, the Director of the Ministry of Health in Sheikh District, explained that the poisoning was likely caused by improper administration of the medicine. If the medication was injected incorrectly, harmful substances could have settled in the camel’s body, particularly in its liver. In Somali culture, the liver is considered a delicacy and is often eaten first, which may have worsened the condition of those who consumed it.
“The people who ate the liver were in the worst condition,” Dr. Abdullahi said, emphasizing the danger of eating meat from medicated animals without proper precautions.
One of the affected family members, Nur Farah Bulaale, shared that eight people, including his parents and sister, were still in the hospital in Burco. The rest of the family members were slowly recovering.
“Most of us are getting better, but the sickness was severe. We had a lot of vomiting and diarrhea, which made us very weak,” Nur said.
This is not the first time such an incident has happened in the region. In 2008, more than 60 people became sick after consuming contaminated meat, and one woman reportedly died from the poisoning.
Health officials are now warning the public to be cautious when dealing with sick animals. They strongly advise people to consult a veterinarian before slaughtering animals that have been ill or treated with medicine. Consuming meat from a sick animal, especially one that has recently received medication, can be extremely dangerous.
This unfortunate event serves as a reminder of the risks associated with eating meat from unhealthy animals. Families in rural communities should be aware of the potential dangers and take the necessary precautions to prevent such tragedies from happening again.