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/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antananarivo
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In Madagascar, at least 17 dead after food poisoning in Antananarivo
In Madagascar, the death toll continues to rise following a serious case of food poisoning that occurred during the night of Saturday, June 14th to Sunday, June 15th in the Malagasy capital. The latest report shows seventeen deaths and around forty people hospitalized, including ten in critical condition.
Published on:06/18/2025 - 05:28
By : RFI
The victims were all students who attended a birthday party held on the evening of Saturday, June 14, in a reception hall on the outskirts of Antananarivo. The festive occasion turned tragic. Nearly fifty guests, aged between 20 and 30, were hospitalized overnight following serious symptoms: severe headaches, abdominal pain, greenish vomiting, vision problems, and respiratory distress. According to the Ministry of Health, seventeen people have since died, and a health investigation is underway.
Analysis in progress, room closed
Speaking to the press, Ando Ravelonarivo, director of consumer protection at the Ministry of Commerce, said an investigation was underway to identify the pathogenic bacteria that caused the poisoning. " Samples were taken from food samples and from the kitchen where the food was prepared. Everything has been sent to the food quality control laboratory, and we are all awaiting results ," he said.
The Ministry of Tourism, for its part, ordered the temporary closure of the establishment, after noting that it did not have any " license to carry out restaurant or catering activities ."
The affair has sparked intense emotion on social media, with many Internet users demanding total transparency. They are calling on the government " to publish the results of the analyses as soon as possible ." Others are denouncing a " tragedy that is simply the result of repeated failures " by health authorities to ensure rigorous controls throughout the food chain.
https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250...s-une-intoxication-alimentaire-à-antananarivo
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Madagascar: Government claims 'poisoning' at party leaves several dead
In Madagascar, the government put forward the theory of " intentional poisoning " on June 18 after the tragedy that occurred at a birthday party in the suburbs of Antananarivo. During the night of Saturday, June 14 to Sunday, June 15, around fifty guests were urgently admitted to several hospitals in the capital, all presenting the same symptoms: vomiting and respiratory distress. The latest death toll is at least 19, while around twenty people remain in " critical " condition.
Published on:06/19/2025 - 05:13
In Madagascar, a serious poisoning incident during a birthday party left at least 19 dead. Health Minister Professor Zely Randriamanantany confirmed on June 18 that it was "intentional poisoning." Pictured here is the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona Hospital (HJRA) in Antananarivo in August 2023 (illustrative image).
In Madagascar, a serious poisoning incident during a birthday party left at least 19 dead. Health Minister Professor Zely Randriamanantany confirmed on June 18 that it was "intentional poisoning." Here, the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona Hospital (HJRA), in Antananarivo, in August 2023 (illustrative image). AP - Laetitia Bezain
By : RFI
With our correspondent in Antananarivo, Pauline Le Troquier
According to the Malagasy government's version , a toxic substance was introduced into doughnuts eaten by the victims on the evening of the incident. Analyses of the suspect food are still underway. But without waiting for the official results – dedicated to identifying the type of poison – the Minister of Health , Professor Zely Randriamanantany, confirmed the toxicity of the samples during a press briefing.
" We tested pieces of donut on three small mice. As soon as they ingested it, they died instantly. This confirms that it was indeed poisoning. We administered antidotes because we have initial clues about the type of poison. I believe these treatments will save lives ," he said.
Families' Anxiety at the Hospital
Meanwhile, at the HJRA, the public hospital that treated most of the victims, relatives watched without seeing any noticeable improvement, faced with helpless caregivers. Saholy's 21-year-old son has been in a coma since 10 p.m. Sunday. When he was admitted, he was displaying serious symptoms, described as " atypical " by the medical staff, his mother testified. " He had a sore throat and couldn't speak. His eyesight also deteriorated and he had difficulty breathing, so he was put on oxygen. It's very serious. We think that if it were simple food poisoning, it wouldn't be so severe ."
As part of the investigation opened to understand the circumstances of this tragedy, five suspects have already been arrested, according to the Minister Delegate for the National Gendarmerie.
https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250...ment-lors-d-une-fête-qui-fait-plusieurs-morts
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Madagascar: Medical sources dispute the poisoning claim defended by the authorities during the Ambohimalaza tragedy
In Madagascar, at least 22 people died after eating food at a birthday party in the suburbs of Antananarivo on Saturday, June 14, 2025. About twenty patients remain in critical condition. While three women suspected of playing a role in the tragedy have been in pretrial detention at Antanimora Prison in the capital since June 20, medical sources told RFI that the government is challenging the theory of intentional poisoning as the explanation for these deaths.
Published on:06/22/2025 - 11:15
By : RFI
With our correspondent in Madagascar, Pauline Le Troquier
Blurred vision, difficulty swallowing and speaking, a feeling of tightness in the throat - from a clinical point of view, nothing suggests such a criminal act, assure several medical sources who have all been in contact with the victims. According to them, these symptoms are, however, typical of botulism . The disease, caused by a powerful toxin, comes from a bacterium present in poorly preserved food, the development of which is encouraged in the event of a break in the cold chain.
Acute respiratory distress, also suggestive of botulism, led to the death of several patients from hypoxia due to a lack of available ventilators to assist them, according to a caregiver interviewed by RFI on condition of anonymity. Through self-censorship, medical staff defend the regime's official version to those close to the victims.
"The truth never dies"
Malalatiana's companion is among the deceased. The day after his death, the young woman demands that light be shed on the circumstances of this tragedy: " Doctors are required to inform relatives and patients of the true situation. There is a Malagasy saying that says 'the truth never dies.' Even if it won't change anything for us, because he won't return, for once, this truth, for us, for all these grieving families, we are waiting for it. "
On Wednesday, as the number of deaths mounted, the Malagasy Minister of Health supported the theory of deliberate poisoning in light of a test conducted on mice. This version was confirmed on national television by President Andry Rajoelina the following day. At this time, the initial analyses carried out on Malagasy soil using suspect food have not been able to identify what type of poison may have caused the tragedy, the presidential statement details. In-depth studies are underway in a French laboratory.
https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20250...ar-les-autorités-lors-du-drame-d-ambohimalaza
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/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambositra
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New cases of food poisoning in Madagascar: 11 deaths recorded in Ambositra
by the Editorial Staff
June 25, 2025 1 min read
Another serious food poisoning incident has occurred in the Ambositra district, 300km south of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. This time, 11 people have died, according to the latest figures released by health authorities.
This health tragedy comes on top of a series of similar incidents recorded in other regions of the country in recent weeks, the most notable of which remains the one that occurred in Antananarivo during a birthday party, which caused the death of around twenty people.
According to initial information, the victims of Ambositra may have consumed mortadella purchased in Toamasina several days before their intended use. The product was reportedly transported approximately 500 kilometers, possibly under unsuitable storage conditions, which could have led to the development of toxic bacteria, including those responsible for botulism, a rare but serious form of food poisoning.
The Minister of Public Health spoke at a press conference, urging the public to exercise caution in preparing and storing food, particularly sensitive products such as cold cuts and duck egg mayonnaise. He emphasized the need to use refrigerators and observe basic hygiene rules. However, he has not yet officially confirmed the cause of the poisoning or addressed the direct responsibility of the incriminated product.
https://freedom.fr/nouveaux-cas-din...-madagascar-11-deces-enregistres-a-ambositra/
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FOOD POISONING IN AMBOSITRA - The human toll rises
Miangaly Ralitera
-Published on June 24, 2025
Ambositra has been rocked by a series of deaths linked to food poisoning. According to the latest official report, eleven people have lost their lives.
The city is in mourning. The number of victims of this food poisoning has risen sharply. Yesterday at 5 p.m., authorities announced eleven deaths, compared to just one the day before. The party host and his parents are among the deceased.
Thirteen other patients are still receiving treatment, four of whom are in critical condition. Some have been transferred to hospitals in Antsirabe and Antananarivo.
"The regional referral hospital (CHRR) is unable to treat many critical cases. Our city is already suffering from long power outages, and the hospital's generator can only power a few buildings. But we are also running out of oxygen. This is dangerous for critical cases," said an anonymous source at Ambositra hospital.
The Minister of Public Health, Professor Zely Randriamanantany, indicated yesterday on the set of the national channel that oxygen had been sent to Ambositra.
Since Monday, 24 people who attended a First Communion meal have been admitted to the hospital. According to health professionals, they were suffering from headaches, vomiting, extreme fatigue, breathing problems, and seizures.
Vigilance
"It's a bit like the same pattern as for patients hospitalized here," said a source at the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona University Hospital (JRA University Hospital), referring to the poisoning cases that occurred during a birthday party on June 14.
The food responsible for the poisoning in Ambositra remains to be identified. The products used to prepare the dishes served at the ceremony have been sent to Antananarivo for analysis, said the minister, who visited the site with other members of the government.
The Minister of Public Health is calling on the public to exercise caution, ensure the quality of food consumed, and follow hygiene and storage rules. The Ministry of Industrialization and Trade has also urged everyone to be vigilant to avoid health risks. Ando Ravelonarivo, Director of Consumer Protection, clarified that no expired products or food have been reported in these cases.
"To date, there is no evidence that heavy oil has been recycled into oil for human consumption," he said.
Two dead and two discharged at JRA University Hospital
The situation is evolving at JRA University Hospital. Two people died yesterday, while two others were able to return home. These new deaths bring the number of poisoning-related deaths to twenty-six: twenty-two at JRA University Hospital and four in other hospitals in Antananarivo.
Miangaly Ralitera
https://www.lexpress.mg/2025/06/intoxication-alimentaire-ambositra-le.html