Three members of a family in Gwanda have died of suspected food poisoning. The tragedy was confirmed by Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele who said investigations were underway to establish the cause of the deaths.
Ndebele told The Chronicle that Jotham Sibanda (64) from Matshiye Village died on Saturday at home while his two grandchildren aged six and eight died, in that order, on Thursday at Mpilo and Friday at home. He said:
I can confirm that we recorded a case where a man and his two grandchildren aged six and eight years died in a suspected case of food poisoning. On May 7 in the morning Mrs Khohliso Sibanda prepared food which she ate with her husband and their three grandchildren aged six, eight and 12 years.
He said the trio was ferried to Gwanda Provincial Hospital where they were admitted after it started to vomit, suffer from diarrhoea and lose consciousness. The si-year-old child got worse and was further ferried to Mpilo where he died.
Food poisoning also known as foodborne illness is the result of eating contaminated, spoiled, or toxic food. The most common symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
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