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Dogs eat nsima, a porridge made from maize flour or husks, in Blantyre, Malawi

Malawi has recently recorded the sudden deaths of dogs that consumed meals prepared from maize husks contaminated with aflatoxins.

Veterinary experts say the country has recorded 450 dog deaths since April, when the first cases were identified in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre.

Aflatoxins are toxic substances produced by fungi that grow on pet food ingredients like peanuts, corn and other grains. Experts warn that the accumulation of those toxins in an animal’s body can lead to liver damage, blood clotting and, in severe cases, death.

Timothy Banda is the veterinary clinic manager at the Blantyre Society for the Protection and Care of Animals, which has been testing the dogs. He told VOA that symptoms include a yellowish tint on the dog‘s skin, hemorrhagic diarrhoea or bloody diarrhoea, and sometimes vomiting.

"For the past two, three weeks, we haven’t received any death from the problem," he said. "But from the time it started somewhere around April up to somewhere around early August, the estimations could be somewhere around 450 dogs so far have died.”

He said the aflatoxin contamination was suspected after it was observed that the dogs were not responding to treatment.

“Under normal circumstances, once we started the right treatment, we could get good results, but in this scenario, they were all dying despite whatever treatment was given. Nothing could work out,” Banda said.

Banda said the affected dogs were those fed with nsima, a thick porridge prepared from maize or maize husks. Alfred Manda, a resident of Chirimba township, said that he lost three dogs in August.

“The kind of food I mostly give out to my dogs is nsima flour made from leftover maize called madeya," he said. "To me, I thought it was a healthy diet. I wish I knew earlier. I could have done things better to save my dogs, but unfortunately, this is the sad reality that I have faced.”

Health experts warn that aflatoxins can also cause tumours in the livers of animals and humans. But health officials in Malawi, where maize is the staple food, have not reported any human deaths resulting from consuming contaminated maize.

In Zambia, media reports indicate over 400 dogs died in July after consuming maize meal contaminated with aflatoxins. Malawi authorities are advising dog owners to switch to alternative foods, such as rice, until the problem is contained. Source: VOA

Kevin Kang'ethe during his previous appearance before a Milimani Law court.[Standard, File]

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has secured the extradition of Kevin Kang'ethe to face murder charges in the United States. Kang'ethe is accused of killing Margaret Mbitu on October 31, 2023.

He is scheduled to appear before Suffolk Superior Court in Boston on September 3. The DPP said Kang'ethe left  Nairobi for Boston on September 1.

 In a statement on Monday, September 2, DPP Renson Ingonga expressed his office's commitment to the case. 

“I wish to reiterate my commitment and support whenever needed to the United States and in particular the prosecution team as they proceed with the next phase of the case,” he said.

“To the family of the late Margaret Mbitu, we offer our support and prayers,” he added.  Kang'ethe fled to Kenya after the alleged murder and was apprehended by authorities. 

He had been held at Muthaiga Police Station but escaped custody on Wednesday, February 7, at about 7:30 p.m., reportedly fleeing in a waiting matatu.

Nairobi Police boss Adamson Bungei confirmed the incident and visited the station, ordering the arrest of the four officers who were on duty when the escape occurred. 

“We have the four officers in custody plus the suspect’s lawyer; we will brief the press later today on the developments,” said Bungei.

 Kang'ethe was later arrested from his hiding place in Ngong, Kajiado County. By David Njaaga, The Standard

The Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. /CMG

Tanzania's Zanzibari President Hussein Ali Mwinyi awarded members of the 33rd batch of the Chinese medical team medals and commemorative certificates in recognition of their contribution to Tanzania's medical and health undertakings.

The awarding ceremony was held Monday at the Zanzibar State House at the end of the team's one-year medical services in the Indian Ocean islands.

Mwinyi thanked the Chinese government for its outstanding contributions to Zanzibar's medical service and healthcare over the past 60 years and highly praised the Chinese medical team's hard work and selfless dedication. Mwinyi said the Chinese medical team used advanced medical technology to treat local patients and actively trained local medical students and doctors to reserve talent to develop Zanzibar's medical sector.

He said Chinese doctors made extraordinary contributions to developing minimally invasive laparoscopic technology in Zanzibar, enabling local doctors to make a qualitative leap in laparoscopic technology from scratch.

Jiang Guoqing, chief of the medical team, said the Chinese medical team will continue to strengthen health cooperation and exchanges with Zanzibar, provide high-quality medical services to the locals, and contribute more to the China-Africa friendship.

The 33rd batch of the Chinese medical team arrived in Zanzibar in September last year, treated nearly 40,000 outpatients, and held 20 large-scale free clinics.

China began sending medical teams to Zanzibar in 1964. Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

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