Toxic Crocodile Bile Blamed for Dozens of Deaths in Mozambique
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iStock/Thinkstock(MAPUTO, Mozambique) — Authorities in the southeastern African country of Mozambique are trying to learn how a beer was allegedly poisoned with crocodile bile that led to the deaths of 69 people attending a funeral last weekend.
Those attending the funeral got deathly ill from drinking the locally brewed beer Pombe, which was reportedly spiked with the toxic substance.
Nearly 200 others were hospitalized with diarrhea and muscle aches.
Since the health system treating the victims isn’t equipped to deal with a crisis of this magnitude, the death toll is expected to rise.
Authorities say the woman who brewed the beer also died after drinking it. There were also reports that people who drank the beer during the morning of the funeral did not get sick, meaning it was likely contaminated during the afternoon.
Samples of the beer have been sent to the Mozambique capital of Maputo for testing.
Crocodile bile is commonly known in Africa as a lethal substance.
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