Fatal poisoning at Madagascar party leaves 20 dead

The death toll from a fatal poisoning at a birthday party in Madagascar last Saturday near the country's capital has risen to 20. A statement from authorities said food served at the event was deliberately contaminated.

The birthday party, held at a restaurant in the rural district of Ambohimalaza , on the outskirts of Antananarivo , was attended by about 50 people , mostly students of a private university, between the ages of 20 and 30. The food served at the party included a variety of dishes, both meat and vegetarian.

At some point, some guests began to complain of disturbing symptoms, including dizziness and vision problems, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, weakness and joint pain.

One of the guests died during the party , so it was immediately interrupted, and those who felt ill were taken to various hospitals in the capital in the middle of the night.

The day after the birthday party, the death toll rose to 10. The dead included the birthday girl and the woman who owned the restaurant where the party was held, who also ate the food served.

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The families of the diners quickly began to suspect that the food might have been deliberately poisoned. Madagascar's Minister of Public Health , Zely Randriamanantany, told the media that the patients were receiving intensive treatment. An investigation was also launched into the suspicion of a crime.

On Thursday, Xinhua reported that another 10 people had died. The Malagasy government issued a statement saying the deaths of 20 partygoers were intentional. "Since the poisoning was intentional , the perpetrators must be punished," it said.

The first successes of the investigation were also reported - five suspects were detained . The administration of one of the hospitals, where the remaining participants of the party, who were diagnosed with poisoning symptoms, are staying, reported that 20 people are still in critical condition.

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The incident is not the first of its kind to occur in Madagascar in recent years. In March last year in Mahajanga , in the north of the country, several government officials and their aides fell seriously ill after eating food served at a prestigious hotel.