Two dead, 60 hospitalised

Two people died and 60 others were admitted to hospitals following suspected food poisoning during a church service in Luanda town, Vihiga county, on Sunday. Three of those admitted to Emuhaya subcounty hospital, Coptic and Equator hospitals were in critical condition. The victims complained of stomach pains, headache and diarrhoea. Relatives of those admitted swarmed the hospitals keen to know what caused the suspected poisoning.

Vihiga County Director of Health Benjamin Induswe said 20 of the victims had been stabilised and confirmed the two deaths. He said tests had been done on the first batch but the results were inconclusive. “We have requested equipment for microbiological tests to see what is affecting our patients,” Induswe said. The condition was linked to the church funds drive attended by all the affected. Medics at the hospital said samples of the food they ate would be taken to the Government Chemist for analysis.