Five-year-old dies, two adults hospitalised after consuming 'deadly' meat

Narok, Kenya: A five-year-old child died Saturday at Mategeta village in Narok South Sub-County after consuming the remains of a dead cow that is believed to have died of anthrax.

Two other adults are admitted at Narok County Hospital after they also consumed the carcass.

According to Ngoringori Location Chief Raphael Pariken, locals defied orders from public health officers who had told them not to consume the meat after three cows died.

Pariken said health officers warned locals against consuming an uninspected beef after cases on anthrax were reported.

"We will ask veterinary officers to impose quarantine on movement of livestock until it is ascertained that the disease has been contained," said Pariken, who added that they will be holding barazas to sensitize locals.

The administrator revealed that several people consumed the beef and appealed to locals to immediately seek medical assistance.

A health officer who sought anonymity said the test carried out on the carcasses turned positive for anthrax. He expressed fears that more deaths are likely to occur because many more people ferried the beef home.