PHNOM PENH: Five Cambodian villagers have died and dozens more fallen ill after eating rotten dog meat, an official said on Tuesday, in a remote province where canines are regarded as a delicacy.

The round of fatal food poisonings began on Sunday after a 76-year-old man called Chea Reth bought the dead dog from another villager.

He died several hours later after cooking and eating it, according to Kong Kimny, governor of Snoul district in northeastern Kratie province where the incident took place.

In a macabre twist, guests at his funeral later on Sunday also ate the leftover meat and were rushed to the hospital with acute food poisoning.

By Monday evening four more people — two men and two women — had died of poisoning, the official added.

“These people like eating dog meat but previously have never had any problem,” he said.

“It is the first ever case of its kind to happen in the district. “He said another 30 villagers were also hospitalised, with nine still needing treatment on Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2015