Possibly Pervasive Food Poisoning in Africa

I bet this is not a new calamity affecting people living in Africa! But it is probably seriously underreported!

"Food poisoning has become a persistent menace in West Africa. Cases in Ghana, for example, now contribute to 10% of outpatient hospital visits.

One recent study found ~2,000 Ghanaians suffered from various forms of food poisoning between 2013 and 2021, and 36 people died in related outbreaks.

Those figures are likely an undercount, advocates say—with one calling the problem “a ticking time bomb.” 

The causes are numerous:

• Toxic pesticides on crops: In the Ivory Coast, 9 people died and 70+ villagers were sickened after eating corn suspected to have been tainted by pesticides. 
• Poor food hygiene: Food is often unsafely stored and sold at markets, researchers say—with some vendors even openly selling rotten produce.
• Little consumer awareness about unsafe foods, or how to get help if they get food poisoning. 
• No robust surveillance system to track and trace sources of poisoning incidents.

..."

Global Health NOW: Pervasive Food Poisoning; ​​Fighting Syphilis—and Fighting for Tribal Sovereignty; and There’s Gaming, and Then There’s Excel-ing