Two people have died after consuming food at Independence Day celebrations in Kgomokasitwa village where a suspected food poisoning outbreak has left 270 people requiring medical attention.
Moshupa District Council has confirmed that the deaths come amid preliminary laboratory findings pointing to Salmonella bacteria (which causes diarrhoea) as the likely cause of the outbreak which emerged after the Independence Day event held at the village kgotla.
In a press statement, the council said patients began seeking medical attention on October 1 after developing symptoms consistent with food poisoning. The cumulative number of patients who required medical intervention subsequently rose to 270, putting local health facilities at the centre of the response to the outbreak. However, while confirming the two fatalities among people who consumed food at the event, the council warned that medical authorities had not yet established whether the deaths were directly caused by the suspected food poisoning.
“Medical authorities cannot definitively attribute these fatalities to the food poisoning outbreak,” the council said adding that further clinical investigations would be required to establish the causes of death.
“Medical authorities cannot definitively attribute these fatalities to the food poisoning outbreak,” the council said adding that further clinical investigations would be required to establish the causes of death. Preliminary laboratory investigations have identified Salmonella bacteria as the likely cause of the outbreak. The bacteria can cause illness characterised by diarrhoea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
The National Food Laboratory and the Botswana Police Service Forensic Laboratory are conducting further detailed tests to determine the definitive source of contamination. The findings could help establish how the food became contaminated and whether any failures in food handling or preparation contributed to the outbreak.
The council has not identified the specific food consumed by the affected individuals or disclosed whether investigators have established where the suspected contamination occurred.
Despite the scale of the incident, the council said the situation had stabilised, with joint response teams continuing to monitor developments. It also reported that the vast majority of the 270 patients were recovering well. Residents have been urged to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms of illness, while the council has called for strict adherence to food hygiene standards during community gatherings.
It is understood that the outbreak has raised concerns over food safety at public events where food preparation, storage and handling practices are critical to preventing the spread of foodborne illnesses.
