Melo News | Wednesday, August 21, 2024 | Lusaka
In a concerning announcement, Health Minister Elijah Muchima has alerted the Zambian public to the discovery of harmful toxins in a specific brand of mealie meal, which has been linked to the tragic deaths of approximately 400 dogs.
The contaminated mealie meal poses a significant risk to human health as well, with the potential to cause severe acute lung and liver damage.
Recent health investigations have identified the presence of Aflatoxin in some maize available in the market, a toxin known to compromise lung function and damage kidneys.
While the government has yet to disclose the name of the implicated mealie meal brand, officials have assured the public that an investigation is underway to trace the source of these toxins believed to be circulating within the Zambian market.
In a related health update, Minister Muchima confirmed that Zambia has not recorded any cases of Monkeypox (Mpox), as all 24 suspected cases tested negative. Mpox, a viral zoonotic disease, can be transmitted from animals to humans and, more recently, between humans through close contact.
Symptoms typically begin with fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes, followed by a rash that progresses from blisters to dry crusts.
The minister expressed deep concern over the detection of these harmful toxins, emphasizing the need for vigilance, especially among vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.
He noted that the case fatality rate for Mpox is three percent higher than that observed during the recent cholera outbreak, with transmission occurring primarily through direct contact with bodily fluids, lesion material, or respiratory droplets during prolonged close contact.
Additionally, he highlighted that contamination can occur through materials like bedding and clothing, and that sexual contact has emerged as a newly recognized mode of transmission.
