Somaliland health officials blame traditional slaughter and improper drug use after camel meat poisons entire family in Saaxil region
A sick camel slaughtered for Eid in Somaliland left 21 family members poisoned. Health officials warn against consuming medicated animals without proper veterinary clearance.
A Tradition Gone Toxic: How an Eid Camel Slaughter Poisoned a Whole Family in Somaliland
21 members of a single family found themselves battling for their lives after consuming meat from a sick camel—a haunting reminder of how ancient customs and modern medicines can collide with deadly consequences.
The incident unfolded in Himin village, where a family slaughtered a camel that had recently fallen ill. The animal had been treated with medication, but when no improvement was seen, it was killed for the Eid feast—a common pastoral tradition in Somali communities where wasting meat is taboo.
But this time, that tradition proved toxic.
Dr. Ismail Hussein Abdullahi, Director of the Ministry of Health in Sheikh District, confirmed that the illness stemmed from improper administration of veterinary drugs. “The medication may have been injected into the wrong vein, causing toxic accumulation, particularly in the liver—often the first part of the animal consumed during such celebrations,” he told the BBC.
The liver, considered a delicacy, turned out to be the most lethal part. Those who consumed it fell critically ill. Vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration set in rapidly, with eight people still hospitalized in Burco, including the parents and sister of Nur Farah Bulaale, one of the victims.
While most of the family is recovering, the case has sparked fresh concern in a region where such incidents have occurred before. In 2008, more than 60 people were poisoned in a similar episode—proof that these aren’t isolated accidents but a systemic health oversight.
The Ministry of Health has now urged the public to stop slaughtering sick animals and avoid consuming any meat from livestock recently treated with medication without proper veterinary clearance. But changing rural customs takes time—and a deeper push for awareness.
This tragedy is a stark warning for communities across the Horn of Africa: in an era of evolving medicines, relying on tradition without science can have devastating consequences. What should have been a day of unity and celebration nearly turned fatal for an entire family. The lesson? Life-saving caution must now take precedence over long-held custom.
