21 Relatives Fall Ill After Consuming Infected Camel in North Western State of Somalia
In the serene Saaxil region of North Western State of Somalia, a celebration turned tragic as twenty-one members of a single family were struck by food poisoning. Their joyful Eid al-Fitr festivities took a sorrowful turn upon consuming meat from a camel they had slaughtered—a camel they had hoped would nourish them after falling ill. Local health officials have sounded the alarm and explained the unfortunate sequence of events.
This unsettling incident unfolded within the close-knit community of Himin village. The family, adhering to a longstanding tradition of rural Somali communities, decided to slaughter a camel that had shown signs of illness. Dr. Ismail Hussein Abdullahi, who leads the Ministry of Health in the Sheikh District, shared poignant insights from the investigation. “When their camel fell ill,” Dr. Abdullahi recounted, “they administered medication. Unfortunately, once it showed no signs of improvement, they resorted to slaughtering it for meat, as is customary.”
“This incident happened to this family when their camel fell ill and they gave it medicine. When they saw that its condition was not improving, they, as is Somali tradition, slaughtered the animal to eat its meat,” Dr. Abdillahi told the BBC.
Amid the celebration, hidden dangers lurked. Health experts concluded that improper drug administration likely triggered the poisoning. Perhaps the medication was injected into the wrong vein, resulting in toxins accumulating within the camel’s liver—a prized delicacy often savored first during such feasts.
Dr. Abdullahi noted, “The condition of those who ate the liver was especially poor.” Each word seemed to carry the weight of the somber reality faced by the affected family.
Among those affected, Nur Farah Bulaale bravely shared his family’s current plight. “Eight of us, including my parents and sister, are still receiving care in Burco Hospital,” he confirmed, adding a revealing layer to this harrowing narrative. “Fortunately, many in my family are on the mend, yet the illness left us weakened, plagued by relentless vomiting and diarrhea.”
It’s a story that stirs memories from 2008 when the region endured a similar tragedy. Back then, over sixty individuals were sickened by contaminated meat, and the community mourned the death of a woman, heightening today’s concerns.
In response to yet another heartbreaking event, local health authorities are urging residents to seek veterinary advice before any sick animal is slaughtered. This plea echoes a poignant reminder of the hidden dangers of consuming meat from animals recently treated with medication.
Reflecting on these tragedies, one is compelled to consider how culturally ingrained practices intersect with modern veterinary advice. Though guided by tradition, should the pursuit of community well-being sometimes alter our customs? As Benjamin Franklin once wisely noted, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
As the people of Saaxil heal, both physically and emotionally, the broader lesson resonates: the delicate balance between tradition and caution. It’s a reminder of our responsibility to protect one another, earning wisdom from past experiences and emerging stronger.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
