Morocco: Watermelon poisons 13 people in Taounate

Thirteen members of the same family, residing in the village of Oulad Hadou, commune of Ain Aicha (province of Taounate), were hospitalized following food poisoning. The consumption of a watermelon, during a picnic near Argoua, is believed to be the cause of these illnesses.

The lack of suitable medical facilities nearby complicated the initial care. Indeed, neither Ain Aicha nor even the provincial hospital of Taounate were able to provide the necessary care. The victims had to be urgently transferred to the Hassan II University Hospital in Fez.