ABSTRACT
An outbreak of puffer fish poisoning in a family with four cases of which one was fatal is reported. The outbreak occurred in July 1998 in Nosy Be, an island located at the north-western part of Madagascar. Diagnostic investigation with application of the mouse bioassay suggested poisoning with a tetrodotoxin as the etiology. The amount of the toxin was 16 MU (mouse unit) per gram meal. A continuing surveillance of the seafood intoxications either in the country or in the west Indian Ocean region is needed.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks/statistics & numerical data , Tetraodontiformes , Tetrodotoxin/poisoning , Adult , Biological Assay , Child , Child, Preschool , Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control , Fatal Outcome , Female , Humans , Infant , Madagascar/epidemiology , Male , Needs Assessment , Population Surveillance , Public Health , Tetrodotoxin/analogs & derivatives , Tetrodotoxin/chemistryABSTRACT
"An outbreak of puffer fish poisoning in Madagascar"" : An outbreak of puffer fish poisoning in a family with four cases of which one was fatal is reported. The outbreak occurred in July 1998 in Nosy Be; an island located at the north-western part of Madagascar. Diagnostic investigation with application of the mouse bioassay suggested poisoning with a tetrodotoxin as the etiology. The amount of the toxin was 16 MU (mouse unit) per gram meal. A continuing surveillance of the seafood intoxications either in the country or in the west Indian Ocean region is needed."
