At least 52 people have died in Mozambique after they drank beer contaminated with crocodile bile at a funeral.
Homemade beer is extremely common in various villages of Africa, and pombe is a very well-known traditional beer in Mozambique, which is made of corn flour or millets.
Health officials in the northwestern Tete province of Mozambique report that about 52 people have died and more than 50 people admitted to hospitals after consuming crocodile bile contaminated beer at a funeral. Another 146 people have reported to the hospitals to get tested for any poisoning in the province.
Crocodile bile is often converted into poisonous powder, which is extremely dangerous for humans as well as animals. Local police authorities suggest that the beer was probably spiked with crocodile bile.
People who got sick or died after consuming the contaminated beer complained of stomach problems. Carle Mosse, the health director of the province, revealed that beer and blood samples were sent to the capital city of Maputo for testing.
"We don't have the capacity to test the samples," says Mosse.
Health officials believe that the situation may worsen and more people may be admitted to the hospitals as the province did not have sufficient resources to deal with the problem.
People who attended the funeral in the morning and consumed the beer did not experience any illness. However, mourners who visited the funeral in the afternoon were affected with the contaminated beer. Health officials suggest that the beer may have got contaminated during the course of the funeral.
Authorities also revealed that the woman who brewed the beer is also amongst the dead.
Police is also investigating the case but they revealed the investigation will be quite challenging. Crocodile bile converted to poisonous powder is very easily available in the area. Limited amount of the powder is also used in combination of other ingredients to treat certain symptoms of asthma.
Health authorities in the affected region are collecting food and other donations, which will be distributed to the families of those who have lost a family member in the tragedy.
