Pemba. Eight children have died and 78 people have been hospitalised after allegedly eating turtle meat on Panza Island in the Mkoani District of South Pemba Region.
The District Medical Officer for Mkoani, Dr Haji Bakari Haji, said that when he initially asked the patients what was wrong with them, they were not forthcoming.
As a result, samples were taken and sent to the laboratory for further analysis to determine the source of the problem.
Dr Haji said that out of the 86 patients who were brought to the hospital, eight have died.
He said the incident occurred on March 5th of this year on the island.
“We took 86 people to the Abdalla Mzee Mkoani Hospital, eight of whom were children who had already died. The others are in stable condition. We are waiting for the results of the laboratory tests to confirm the source of the incident,” he said.
The Sheha of Panza Ward, Haji Ali Shaali, said that they received reports from some residents claiming that the people had eaten a turtle, but they have not yet been able to verify this. They are waiting for the results of the experts’ analysis.
Miza Kombo Bakari, who lost two children, said the incident occurred on March 5 this year.
She said she did not know what caused the deaths of her children, but she saw them change and start vomiting, so they rushed them to the nearest health centre.
She said one of her children was two years old and the other six months old. They had been given treatment, but they died a short time later.
“I was not at home when I received the news that my children were sick and vomiting. We took them to the hospital, and they were given treatment, but they died a short time later,” said Miza.
A resident of the island, Hadiya Abasi Othman, said she had previously eaten the same type of fish with her children, and they had not been affected.
She said they were worried because of the panic caused by the deaths of the children and the others who are still undergoing treatment.
“I have eaten it before with my children. I got it from my sister, but we are grateful that we were not affected,” said Hadiya.
A health worker, Harub Makame Ali, said that after receiving reports of the deaths and other children being sick, they began to investigate to find out the source. Still, when they asked the residents, they claimed they did not know anything about the matter.
“I received a report yesterday morning that there had been a tragedy and that two children from one family had died. We prepared for the burial of the children, but before we could finish burying them, we received news that more children had died and that others were sick,” said Ali.
Unfortunately, this is not the first fatal incident caused by the consumption of turtle meat in Zanzibar. In 2021, seven people, including a three-year-old, died on Pemba Island after consuming poisonous turtle meat.
Although turtle meat is considered a delicacy among residents of Tanzania’s islands and coastal areas, authorities have banned its consumption due to the risk of toxicity.
Chelonitoxism, a type of food poisoning, can make turtle meat toxic, possibly due to the poisonous algae they consume.
Research indicates that this poisoning can have severe effects on children and the elderly, although healthy adults can also be affected.
Fatal cases related to the consumption of turtle meat have been reported in other parts of the world, including Madagascar, where 19 people, including nine children, died after consuming turtle meat in March 2021, according to AFP news agency reports. Similar incidents have occurred in Indonesia, Micronesia, and India’s Indian Ocean islands.
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way
The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.
The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.
It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.
But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.
Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.
The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.
A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.
Two more to the list
The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.
The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.
Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.
Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).
Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”
In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”
Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.
Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.
“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”
Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.
For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.
The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.
Source: allafrica.com
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European Union Bans Air Tanzania Over Safety Concerns
Kampala — The European Commission added Air Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List, banning the airline from operating within European Union airspace. This decision follows the denial of Air Tanzania’s Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), citing significant safety deficiencies.
The EU Air Safety List includes airlines that fail to meet international safety standards. Commissioner Tzitzikostas emphasized the importance of passenger safety, stating: “The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards. We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift action to address these safety issues. The Commission has offered its assistance to Tanzanian authorities to enhance safety performance and achieve compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania joins several African airlines banned from EU airspace, including carriers from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Kenya. Notable names include Congo Airways, Sudan Airways, and Kenyan carriers Silverstone Air Services and Skyward Express. The ban reflects the EU’s strict approach to aviation safety worldwide.
Source: allafrica.com
