At least nine people, including eight children, have died following a food poisoning incident in central Ivory Coast, the country’s Ministry of Health has confirmed.
In a statement issued on Monday, the ministry said the outbreak occurred on Friday in Ande, a town in the Adzope region, after residents consumed bouillie, a locally prepared porridge.
Health authorities described the incident as a case of collective foodborne illness affecting both adults and children.
A total of 97 severe cases were recorded, with nine fatalities eight children and one adult.
According to the ministry, three patients remain in intensive care, while four others are in stable condition at the Adzope Regional Hospital.
One child under the age of six was transferred to a hospital in the commercial capital, Abidjan, for advanced treatment.
Investigations have been launched to determine the exact cause of the poisoning.
Ivory Coast has recorded similar incidents in recent years. In 2023, about ten children died in the central city of Bouake from a suspected food poisoning case.
Earlier that year, bacterial contamination in a nearby village reportedly led to between 16 and 21 deaths, with two individuals later sentenced to five years in prison.
Health authorities have urged the public to observe food safety practices as investigations continue.
