Kenya has banned the importation of processed meat from South Africa following the outbreak of Listeria, which was linked to the food poisoning that has claimed more than 180 lives.
In a letter addressed to all county public health officers and port health officers, Director of Public Health Kepha Ombacho directed that all meat products in the market should be retracted.
"In order to ensure that the health of the public is protected and as a precautionary measure, you are required to stop the importation and sale of these products in the market," part of the statement read.
[caption caption="Sausage (polony) associated with Listeria outbreak (Twitter)"]
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The outbreak of Listeriosis was associated with products from enterprises food production and rainbow chicken limited whose products include: Bokkie, Lifestyle, Miellekip, Polony, Russian and Viennas.
Kenya follows the lead of Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia which also outlawed the import of the processed meat from the same country.
South Africa has been blamed for taking more than a year in tracing the cause of food poisoning which has infected nearly more than 1000 people.
"This is the largest ever recorded outbreak of this severe form of listeriosis globally," Ben Embarek, who manages the WHO International Food Safety Authorities Network noted.
The symptoms of the deadly disease include nausea, diarrhoea, infection of the bloodstream and brain.
Most people infected display no symptoms, but elderly and very young ones are vulnerable.
Here is the statement:
