Nineteen hospitalised with suspected food poisoning at Rundu State Hospital

NAMPA
2025-01-18
The Namibian Police Force logo The Namibian Police Force logo
NKURENKURU, 18 JAN (NAMPA) - Nineteen people were rushed to the Rundu State Hospital with suspected food poisoning on Friday shortly after consuming oshikundu.
The Namibian Police Force’s Regional Commander for Kavango West, Commissioner Julia Sakuwa-Neo, said the incident occurred around 11h00 at Mavanze village.
The 19 people, all from one household, began experiencing symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea shortly after consuming the traditional drink, which was prepared using drought relief maize meal reportedly infested with small insects.
Among those affected was a pensioner who was admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition, but who is believed to be recovering. The others were reported to be in stable condition.
Sakuwa-Neo emphasised that there is no suspicion of foul play, as the woman who prepared the oshikundu also fell ill.
Staff at the hospital collected a sample of the oshikundu for further analysis.
(NAMPA)
JLN/AS

Latest NAMPA photos

EPUKIRO, 14 January 2026 - Epukiro Secondary School's staff celebrates the school's achievement in the Grade 12 NSSCAS results. (Photo: Contributed)

EPUKIRO, 14 January 2026 - Epukiro Secondary School's staff celebrates the school's achievement in the Grade 12 NSSCAS results. (Photo: Contributed)

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 14 January 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp pictured during the official announcement of the 2025 NSSCO and NSSCAS examination results in Windhoek. (Photo by: Justina Shuumbwa) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 14 January 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp pictured during the official announcement of the 2025 NSSCO and NSSCAS examination results in Windhoek. (Photo by: Justina Shuumbwa) NAMPA

NAMPA
KATIMA MULILO, 13 January 2026 - Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Ruthy Masake speaking at the first Zambezi regional youth indaba here on Tuesday. She is pictured with acting Regional Governor and Kabbe North Constituency Councillor, Bernard Sisamu. (Photo by: Michael Mutonga Liswaniso) NAMPA

KATIMA MULILO, 13 January 2026 - Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Ruthy Masake speaking at the first Zambezi regional youth indaba here on Tuesday. She is pictured with acting Regional Governor and Kabbe North Constituency Councillor, Bernard Sisamu. (Photo by: Michael Mutonga Liswaniso) NAMPA

NAMPA
WINDHOEK, 13 January 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp pictured with some of the top performing learners in the 2025 national examinations. (Photo by: Molly Weyulu) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 13 January 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp pictured with some of the top performing learners in the 2025 national examinations. (Photo by: Molly Weyulu) NAMPA

NAMPA
RUNDU, 12 January 2026 - Andreas Muyongo Mungongi, who made his first appearance in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court on Monday. (Photo by: Sawi Hausiku) NAMPA

RUNDU, 12 January 2026 - Andreas Muyongo Mungongi, who made his first appearance in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court on Monday. (Photo by: Sawi Hausiku) NAMPA

NAMPA
SWAKOPMUND, 13 January 2026 - Stakeholders attending the five-day SADC Agricultural Information Management Systems (AIMS) workshop, which is being held under the second phase of the support towards the Operationalisation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy in Swakopmund. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

SWAKOPMUND, 13 January 2026 - Stakeholders attending the five-day SADC Agricultural Information Management Systems (AIMS) workshop, which is being held under the second phase of the support towards the Operationalisation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy in Swakopmund. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

NAMPA
RUNDU, 12 January 2026 - Kavango East Director of Education, Christine Shilima. (Photo by: Sawi Hausiku) NAMPA

RUNDU, 12 January 2026 - Kavango East Director of Education, Christine Shilima. (Photo by: Sawi Hausiku) NAMPA

NAMPA
SWAKOPMUND, 12 January 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp visited several schools in Swakopmund as part of her ministry’s assessment on how schools in Erongo Region were opening and to present the 2025 national examination results to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

SWAKOPMUND, 12 January 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp visited several schools in Swakopmund as part of her ministry’s assessment on how schools in Erongo Region were opening and to present the 2025 national examination results to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. (Photo by: Isabel Bento) NAMPA

NAMPA