Villagers in hospital after drinking brew
What you need to know:
- Dr Ndiritu said that when the two were brought to the hospital, they were unconscious.
- But Thursday, Nacada chairman John Mututho said they have tested alcoholic brands sold in the market and found 30 per cent did not meet the required standards.
Three people were Thursday admitted in an Embu hospital for taking a lethal brew, weeks after 98 others perished in the same region.
This as Nacada warned that 30 per cent of all drinks in the market are unsafe and will be banned and recalled.
Embu hospital superintendent Gerald Ndiritu said two of the patients were rushed there in the morning while one was taken to the hospital at around 6.30pm.
He said the two who were admitted in the morning were out of danger while the third one was responding well to treatment.
Dr Ndiritu said that when the two were brought to the hospital, they were unconscious.
He however attributed this to the fact that they drank alcohol before eating.
But a nurse at the hospital said one of the patients had complained of blurred vision while the other had difficulties walking.
They had bought the drinks from a wines and spirit outlet. The three men were taken to hospital by county public health officials. The government officers had just returned from treating villagers who consumed meat from a hippopotamus that died of anthrax.
A health official said the liquor taken by the victims was authorised by Nacada.
But Thursday, Nacada chairman John Mututho said they have tested alcoholic brands sold in the market and found 30 per cent did not meet the required standards. The drinks have been taken to Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) laboratories to collaborate the findings.
“We are only waiting for a second opinion from Kebs before banning them from the market,” he said.
The anti-drugs agency postponed the naming of the bogus drinks after experts from Kebs requested for more time to complete tests.
