Mozambique’s government declared three days of mourning starting today after 69 people died from drinking contaminated traditional beer at a funeral over the weekend.
Northeast Tete province Health, Women and Social Welfare Director Paula Bernardo said today that 196 others have been admitted to hospitals there.
“People flocked to the hospital, suffering from diarrhea and muscle pain,” Bernardo told Radio Mozambique. “Then bodies from various neighborhoods were brought to the hospital, and this alerted us.”
The government issued a statement last night to declare the three days of mourning. District health officials yesterday evening had put the death toll at 56, with 49 hospitalised.
Pombe, a traditional Mozambican beer, is made from millet or corn flour. The exact source of the contamination is still unknown, but authorities believe the drink was poisoned with crocodile bile during the course of a funeral on Saturday.
Police are investigating the incident…
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