Kenya: 83 Feeds on Meat Suspected Of Dieing From Anthrax In Meru

About 83 villagers who had eaten meat from a cow suspected to have died of anthrax, were rushed and treated at the hospital. Ben Gituma, the clinical officer-in-charge of Kanyakine Sub-County Hospital said by 2 pm, 10 residents of Igoji West had been admitted to the hospital. He said the cow was suspected to have
been suffering from anthrax. It is suspected that a number of other villagers could still be in their homes after eating the meat. With a visit to the hospital before 3 pm, many people were seen trickling in and complaining of  diarrhoea, stomach
aches and weak joints. "We have mobilised locals including boda bodas to rush
the affected residents to hospital. “The residents said they bought uninspected meat from a villager," Mr Chabari said. Some of hotels and butcheries around also bought part of the meat after the cow was slaughtered on Thursday at Kiroone Village.   Mr Chabari said "Many people have been rushed to hospital where they were treated and discharged. “The good thing is the county government has said the treatment will be free,"  Mrs Virginia Karimi said a relative bought the meat at Sh300 a kilo and after they cooked and ate it they started vomiting. Mrs Karimi was found reeling with pain at the Kanyakine hospital. Ten of those who were being treated at the hospital were children below the age of five years while 33 were male and 50 female. Mr Martin Mwiti said: "We don't know whether the cow was slaughtered or it died but we immediately started vomiting and feelings joint pains after eating it." Mr Moses Mwenda, said he ate the meat together with three of his friends.