Butterworth - Around 34 people are being treated for food poisoning after eating a dead cow in Dutywa near Butterworth, the Eastern Cape health department said on Thursday.
“They are presenting with vomiting, stomach cramps and headaches; this is after feeding on a dead cow,” said spokesman Sizwe Kupelo.
The people from Gxarha village were being treated at the Dutywa community health centre.
He said the number of people affected could rise as the community was calling for more ambulances.
This was the third food poisoning incident in as many weeks, Kupelo said.
“In Flagstaff, 115 people were treated for the same habit of feeding on dead cows, with one 64-year-old dying.”
In the second incident, 36 people were taken to hospital and some to ICU after drinking sour milk which was allegedly poisoned with organophosphates.
“We once again urge people to stop feeding on dead animals,” Kupelo said.
“If an animal dies naturally, without being slaughtered, if it was sick, they should not feed on it, they should just bury it or burn it.”
Sapa