Two children dead, 18 people hospitalized after eating wild honey in Tharaka

The incident which happened in Rukani Village in Tharaka left at least 18 others hospitalized after consuming the wild honey.

Residents who spoke to Citizen Digital added that the victims complained of stomach upsets about three hours after consuming the honey.

“They are currently undergoing observation here at Marimanti Level Four Hospital,” Stephen Kamanja, nurse in charge of the facility, told Citizen Digital.

Tharaka North Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Gabriel Mwangangi has urged locals to avoid consuming wild honey.

According to research by the Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong, since bees move several kilometres from their hives, they may sometimes pick natural toxins along the way.If density of the flowering plant is high, it results in a condition called Mad Honey Poisoning. "Common symptoms include nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, low blood pressure , shock, or even death may occur," the research shows.