Air pollution has reached high levels in Antananarivo, prompting pediatricians to call for vigilance.
The Malagasy Society of Pediatrics is urging parents to limit outdoor outings and physical activities, especially near high-traffic areas. They also advise keeping windows closed during the day and ventilating early in the morning or late at night when pollution levels decrease. Antananarivo is currently experiencing an air pollution episode. “Attention, pollution peak in Tana: protect our children,” the society warned in a message published last week.
According to a bulletin released Friday by the General Directorate of Meteorology, air quality in the capital continues to deteriorate significantly. It remains “unhealthy for everyone,” with concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5) reaching up to eight times the national standards in areas such as Ampandrianomby, Andraharo, Soanierana, Ambatobe, and Amboditsiry, as noted in the air quality monitoring report published on Friday, October 23. The bulletin indicates that this episode is expected to last at least three days, as weather conditions are favoring the accumulation of pollutants.
Météo Madagascar specifies that individuals sensitive to pollution may suffer more severe health effects, including children, the elderly, and pregnant women.
In pediatric hospitals, healthcare professionals state that they have not yet observed any direct impact from this pollution. “This impact does not yet appear in hospital statistics at the moment,” said a pediatrician at a mother-child hospital in Antananarivo.
Short- and long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to a wide range of diseases, including strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancers of the trachea, bronchi, and lungs, worsening of asthma, lower respiratory tract infections, and cardiovascular diseases. According to the World Health Organization, in 2019, an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths were caused by ambient (outdoor) air pollution worldwide. About 89% of these premature deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries like Madagascar.
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-26 06:08:48 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/10/pollution-les-pediatres-recommandent-de.html