19 people died after eating turtle meat

At least 19 people, including nine children, have died in Madagascar as a result of food poisoning after consuming sea turtle meat, which is a protected animal.

Since Monday, 34 people have been admitted to the Photomandry Hospital in the east of the island, ten of whom have died, according to the Health and Food Security Monitoring Agency, without revealing whether there were children among the victims.

Nine other children died in their homes after consuming the same turtle meat, according to the district governor.

The health island authorities strongly recommend against eating sea turtle meat and 24 other marine species during the hot season.

The turtle feeds on seaweeds, which makes its meat poisonous to those who eat it between November and March.

As a result, annually about 50 families are exposed to poisoning, and some die in the coastal regions of Madagascar.

In January 2018, eight people died as a result of poisoning in the north of the country, and eight others died the previous month.