SIMON MUNTEMBA writes
ABOUT 51 people from 7 villages in Mnoro area of Chipangali district in Eastern Province have been treated for suspected dysentery after consuming treated groundnuts seeds, the Ministry of Health has confirmed.
Acting Chipata district health director, Charles Fanaka told the Sun in an interview, that his office received a report through Mnoro health centre that there was an outbreak of dysentery in the area and sent some health experts to ascertain the cause.
Acting on the report, Dr Fanaka said, a team of health experts was dispatched to the area where it was discovered that 51 adults and children were affected after consuming treated groundnut seeds.
“In the same incident many of them did not suffer from suspected dysentery, but complained of abdominal pains,
“One person developed bloody diarrhoea on January 17 and samples were collected from him and 6 others which were tested at Chipata central hospital but tested negative of dysentery,” Dr Fanaka said.
He added, “after further investigations, a certain woman disclosed that others were consuming treated groundnut seed that was distributed through cooperatives because it failed to germinate,” Dr Fanaka said.
He said all the 51 were treated and advised to stop eating the treated seeds.
He further said health education was conducted in the area and people were advised to desist from eating the chemically treated seeds and further distributed 437 bottles of Chlorine.
