A 14-year-old boy from Cavari Village in Mavuria Ward, Mbeere South Constituency, Embu County, has died after consuming food suspected to be contaminated.

The tragic incident occurred on Sunday after the boy and six other individuals reportedly ate leftover food that had been taken home from a community event held the previous day.

According to Embu County Chief Officer for Public Health Henry Nthiga, the group began experiencing severe stomach pains and diarrhea shortly after consuming the food.

By the time medical help was sought, the boy’s condition had rapidly worsened. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The six others were also admitted to hospital and are currently in stable condition. They are expected to be discharged soon.

Nthiga said preliminary investigations suggest the victims suffered food poisoning due to eating improperly stored and reheated leftovers. He urged residents to observe proper food safety practices, especially when dealing with food that is not consumed immediately.

“Leftover food should be properly stored and thoroughly reheated before consumption to reduce the risk of contamination,” Nthiga cautioned.

He also emphasized the importance of involving public health officers in any event that includes food preparation and service.

“Our officers are well trained to inspect and guide safe food preparation at public gatherings. Their involvement can greatly reduce the chances of such unfortunate incidents,” he noted.

Public health officials have since launched further investigations into the incident and continue to monitor the recovery of those affected.

This tragic case highlights the critical importance of food safety and the need for increased public awareness on proper handling, storage, and reheating of food to prevent such avoidable losses.