Rabdhuure is a small district located in Bakool region near the border with Ethiopia.

The poisoning follows after locals slaughtered their dying camels – sick with unknown disease -  only to eat its meat before it dies, in what Somalis call it, "Xalaaleyn”. Officials said that those drank the soup from the sick camel meat were seriously affected than those who ate the meat.

Officials said that the disease, which is spreading rapidly among the camels has symptoms like pain, chills, diarrhea, fever and swelling around the neck and abdomen. Breastfeeding camels suffer breast infection, which leads breast to swell.

Interviewed by Horn Observer, Hassan Moalim Yusuf Black, former Southwest State MP, political activist from Bakool region called the situation dire and called for the federal government of Somalia, Southwest State of Somalia and concerned international organization to urgently investigate the situation of this unknown disease spreading among the camels for the last three weeks.

"The situation is very serious and people suffering meat poisoning need emergency treatment and the camels need to be rescued from this disease” Hassan Moalim Yusuf Black, former Southwest State MP, political activist from Bakool region  said, "I call on the federal government, the South West and Jubbaland administrations and international agencies to urgently investigate this situation and come to the rescue. reach the sick ”

So far there are no reported deaths related to this meat poisoning.

Camels are a central part of the cultural and pastoral life of many Somalis and are a source of income and food.

The deputy governor of Bakol region Yahye Maalim told the local media that "if the camels are not treated promptly, the livestock in Bakool region will face extinction and people in the area will suffer droughts.

Somalia is currently facing flooding, droughts and locust invasion, this camel disease will add complicate the situation further and might likely force people to go towns if their camels die as a result of this disease.

Some editing and corrections were made to some parts of this story prior to its publiction.