Nzinze: Seven children from Nzinze village in the Kavango West Region were hospitalised after consuming poisonous wild berries on Saturday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Kavango West Police Regional Commander Commissioner Julia Sakuwa-Neo informed that the children, aged between three and 10 years, had collected and eaten berries from a Jatropha curcas tree earlier in the day. They began to exhibit signs of illness later that night.

Sakuwa-Neo further mentioned that all the children were initially admitted to Nankudu State Hospital for treatment. While four of them remained at the hospital, three others were transferred to Rundu State Hospital. The three children sent to Rundu State Hospital have since been discharged and are reported to be in stable condition. The four children still at Nankudu State Hospital are also stable.

Commissioner Sakuwa-Neo added that samples from the plant have been collected for analysis and will be sent to the Namibian Police Forensic Science Institute. The Jatropha curcas plant is known to contain curcin, a toxic substance capable of causing severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. The seeds of the plant pose a particular danger to children, potentially leading to acute poisoning.

An incident report has been filed at Kahenge Police Station, and investigations into the matter are ongoing.