Tragedy struck a family after a New Year's Eve meal, the second time a holiday meal in Brazil has turned deadly this season. Two brothers have died after they ate fish as part of a large family meal together.
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Both 17-year-old Manoel da Silva and 1-year-old Igno da Silva died after consuming the meal. Both were rushed to Dirceu Arcoverde Regional Hospital where they passed away. Additionally, five other family members fell ill after consuming the fish.
The meal had been donated to the family by a local organization. The matriarch of the family, Maria da Silva, is currently on a ventilator after her condition worsened. Meanwhile, two nieces are also hospitalized as a result of getting sick
All of the victims appeared to share the same symptoms.
"The symptoms [of the patients] were basically the same: heart rate below normal, intense sweating, reduced level of consciousness," said Dirceu Arcoverde Regional Hospital director, Carlos Teixeira, via Daily Mail. "We are still carrying out tests to discover the origin and the material of this poisoning. We are giving priority attention to children in very serious condition."
Two Brothers Died Months Ago
A local organization donated the meal as part of a meal basket to the family. But the family had prepared their own rice for the meal.
"The people who delivered the food came forward voluntarily and will be interviewed by the police this afternoon," Civil Police chief Abimael Silva said. "The rice consumed by the family that was the victim of the misfortune was prepared by the family itself the day before. They did not consume the rice donated by the people, only the manjuba [fish] that came in the bag."
Meanwhile, investigators have acquired possible leftovers from the trash. They also have collected blood and urine samples as well. Chillingly, the two brothers' deaths come just months after two other brothers in the family died from poisoning.
Both brothers died from eating poisoned cashews from a neighbor. However, the cashews had the insecticide terfubos on them, causing the two to die after eating the poisoned nuts. It's certainly strange, but it's unknown if there's a link between the two of them.
