Tests in 16 Kayova deaths return ‘inconclusive’
Blood tests conducted to determine the cause of death of 16 family members from Kayova village - who died of suspected food poisoning in May - came back ‘inconclusive’.
This was confirmed by Kavango East acting health director, Woita Kapumburu, who was responding to a Namibian Sun enquiry on the status of the test results.
The 16 victims died after eating porridge made from mahangu grains that were previously used for a traditional brew.
The poverty-stricken family sought the grains from another family member in exchange for reeds.
The 16 family members died between 27 May and 1 June.
“We got the blood tests back and it came back as inconclusive,” Kapumburu said.
An inconclusive result is neither positive nor negative.
Other tests
Kapumburu said all hope now lies on forensic and pathology tests which might provide answers.
It is still unclear when these tests will be concluded.
The forensic and pathology tests are being spearheaded by the police through the National Forensic Science Institute of Namibia.
Following autopsies on the victims’ remains, tissue samples were sent to the institute in Windhoek.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Kavango East crime coordinator, deputy commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu, told Namibian Sun that the National Forensic Science Institute has now consulted a laboratory in South Africa for a second opinion on the forensic and pathology tests.
On what this might mean, he said: “That is the answer we don’t have”.
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This was confirmed by Kavango East acting health director, Woita Kapumburu, who was responding to a Namibian Sun enquiry on the status of the test results.
The 16 victims died after eating porridge made from mahangu grains that were previously used for a traditional brew.
The poverty-stricken family sought the grains from another family member in exchange for reeds.
The 16 family members died between 27 May and 1 June.
“We got the blood tests back and it came back as inconclusive,” Kapumburu said.
An inconclusive result is neither positive nor negative.
Other tests
Kapumburu said all hope now lies on forensic and pathology tests which might provide answers.
It is still unclear when these tests will be concluded.
The forensic and pathology tests are being spearheaded by the police through the National Forensic Science Institute of Namibia.
Following autopsies on the victims’ remains, tissue samples were sent to the institute in Windhoek.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Kavango East crime coordinator, deputy commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu, told Namibian Sun that the National Forensic Science Institute has now consulted a laboratory in South Africa for a second opinion on the forensic and pathology tests.
On what this might mean, he said: “That is the answer we don’t have”.
[email protected]
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