A tragic drama unfolded Tuesday in the fokontany of Andampy, urban commune and district of Antalaha, where three people died after consuming the gills of toxic marine fish. The victims, a 26-year-old adult and two children aged 8 and 6, died of food poisoning, as confirmed by members of the local gendarmerie.
The incident was reported by a father to the Antalaha brigade. Quickly informed, four gendarmes went to the scene to observe the facts. According to information collected, the family had bought the fish gills at the Ankoalabe market, urban commune of Antalaha, and consumed them on Monday around 5 p.m. The mother died the same evening at 7 p.m., while her two children, urgently evacuated to CHRD2 in Antalaha, died the same night despite the care provided.
The requested doctor concluded that it was food poisoning due to the consumption of toxic marine fish. The bodies of the deceased were handed over to their families after the necessary formalities. A sample of the incriminated gills was taken for analysis at the laboratory of the Pasteur Institute in Antananarivo, on the instructions of the president of the Antalaha TPI and at the request of the victims’ relatives.
The Antalaha gendarmerie has opened an investigation and is actively looking for the man named Mena, the alleged seller of toxic fish.
This tragedy is unfortunately not an isolated case. For example, in Ambinanibe, Taolagnaro, two fishermen aged 60 and 38 died after consuming fish known by the scientific name “Arothron mappa”. Seven fishermen had cooked and eaten these fish near the port of Ehoala. Shortly after, the sixty-year-old died on the beach, while his six colleagues fell seriously ill.
Preventative measures. Faced with these repeated incidents, it is imperative to strengthen controls in all markets and fishmongers. Severe penalties will be applied to traders selling toxic seafood. It is crucial to raise public awareness of the dangers of consuming unidentified or potentially toxic marine animals to avoid such tragedies in the future.
Yv Sam