Bungoma Tragedy: 25 Family Members Hospitalised After Drinking Contaminated Milk
A health crisis has struck Bunjosi village in Misikhu Ward, Webuye West constituency, Bungoma County, where 25 members of an extended family have been hospitalised after consuming contaminated milk. The milk, processed into “mala” (sour milk) from a sick cow, has caused severe illness and sparked widespread concern.
According to Moses Wafula, the family spokesperson, the contamination incident began when his brother milked a cow that had recently fallen ill. Despite the cow receiving treatment from a local veterinary officer, the milk was later shared among six homes within the extended family. Within three days, all recipients began showing alarming symptoms, including vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, headaches, and extreme body weakness.
“This incident has shocked us. Hospitalising over 20 family members is not only emotionally overwhelming but also financially draining,” Wafula told journalists outside Webuye County Hospital.
Currently, 20 patients are receiving care at Webuye County Hospital, while five others are being treated at Bokoli Sub-county Hospital. Health officials at Webuye County Hospital, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the victims were initially in critical condition but are now stabilising.
One of the victims, Willy Wanjala, described the ordeal as sudden and terrifying. “I’ve started feeling a little better, but recovery is slow. We never expected something as simple as milk to bring us here. We’re now worried about the hospital bills,” Wanjala said.
The community is now calling for immediate government intervention. Residents have urged public health officers to test the contaminated milk and determine the exact cause of poisoning. They are also appealing to local leaders and the national government to provide financial assistance for medical expenses.
This isn’t the first time such an incident has been reported. In Embu County, 68 students from St Thomas Aquinas Igumori Secondary School were hospitalised earlier this year after consuming contaminated meat during a school feast. Investigations later linked the outbreak to poor hygiene during food preparation.
As the affected families in Bungoma await medical results and government support, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for stricter food safety standards and improved public health awareness in rural Kenya.
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Bungoma Tragedy: 25 Family Members Hospitalised After Drinking Contaminated Milk