The father was hospitalised and remains in intensive care where he is said to be "stable".

10:18, Tue, Dec 30, 2025 Updated: 10:19, Tue, Dec 30, 2025

Antonella Di Ielsi

Antonella Di Ielsi died hours after her daughter in the early hours of Sunday (Image: Jam Press)

A mother and daughter have died from suspected food poisoning after falling ill following a dinner on Christmas Eve. Antonella Di Ielsi, 50, and her 15-year-old daughter Sara Di Vita died in a hospital in southern Italy just hours apart over the weekend.

The meal is believed to have included mushrooms, fish and seafood, including mussels. Local media report police have taken leftovers from the family home in Pietracatella for laboratory tests, while autopsies are set to take place on Wednesday as authorities look to understand the cause of death. Antonella and Sara were first admitted to Cardarelli Hospital in Campobasso on Christmas Day, with abdominal pain and nausea but were sent home.

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Sara Di Vita

Sara Di Vita, 15, died on Saturday (Image: Jam Press)

They then returned on Boxing Day, only to be sent back again before being admitted for a third time on Saturday.

Sara died that evening, followed by Antonella a few hours later after “multiple organ failure”.

Doctors initially suspected gastroenteritis, but investigators said as their conditions worsened, medical staff began considering botulism, listeria, fulminant hepatitis (liver failure), or “chemical poisoning” as possible causes of death.

The father, Gianni Di Vita, a former mayor of Pietracatella, was also hospitalised. 

He is said to have been transferred to a unit in Rome where he is “stable” but remains in intensive care.

Local reports say the other daughter, 20, is also under observation in the capital as a precaution.

She is said to have shown no symptoms as she did not attend the dinner that caused the suspected food poisoning. 

Mayor Antonio Tommasone said the incident is a “tragedy that leaves us speechless”.

He said: “The town is now empty. We're all at home, we don't know what to say. I've declared a day of mourning for the funeral and canceled all Christmas celebrations.”

According to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, five doctors have been placed under investigation by Campobasso prosecutor's office as authorities try to understand what happened in the lead up to the deaths of the mother and daughter.

It is claimed meals on December 23 and 24 are being assessed. 

No other guests are reported to have fallen ill.