Mozambique, 69 dead from tainted beer

I had no idea you could be poisoned with crocodile bile. How awful! The woman who brewed the beer has reportedly died, as well, and from what I read, there is no suspected motive yet on why somebody would intentionally poison funeral goers, most likely while they were gathered at the cemetery.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/11/mozambique-poison-beer_n_6450996.html?ir=Canada

Thank you, yoda, for the link to another news source.

ETA the BBC's article on the poisoning: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30777316
 
And here is another article, from The Washington Post, stating that at this time it is not known if the beer was, in fact, poisoned with crocodile bile. The beer has not been tested yet to see what poison it contained. David Kroll, a science writer for Forbes, believes it is more likely that a plant poison containing cardiac glycosides was used, since many are available in the region and would produce symptoms similar to what the victims experienced.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...ing-poisoned-beer-is-crocodile-bile-to-blame/
 
OMG! I've just returned from a 3 month stay in Mozambique. My heart stopped when I saw this thread. Those poor people... :tears:
 
Death Toll Rises to 72

MAPUTO, Mozambique — Jan 13, 2015, 6:49 AM ET
Police investigating the incident said the barrel in which the beer was originally brewed has since disappeared, hampering the investigation.

Police have no leads, police spokesman Zeferino Sande told Radio Mozambique. Medical and law enforcement reinforcements were sent to the region to assist with the disaster.

Blood and traditional beer samples were sent to the capital Maputo to be tested, said provincial health director Carle Mosse.

One expert questioned the claim that crocodile bile is poisonous.

Johan Marais, a South African who has farmed crocodile for eight years, said he has tested many parts of the animal for consuming. He said that the animal's bile, a greenish-brown liquid produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder, was found not to be toxic.

Tragic. :(
 

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