Ackee scare!
Published:Wednesday | February 23, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Anastasia Cunningham, Senior Gleaner Writer
In just over two months, 23 people have died from ackee poisoning, 20 of whom were men. During the period December 1, 2010 to February 16, this year there were 194 cases of ackee poisoning in Jamaica.
This spike in such a short period of time - with men the main victims - has baffled health authorities and prompted an urgent response from the Ministry of Health.
According to statistics from Dr Eva Lewis-Fuller, director of health promotions and protection in the ministry, in the past, there have been on average approximately 12 cases per year, primarily affecting children equally between genders, with no deaths in recent history.
All parishes affected
However, among the recent poisonings, only nine cases were below the age of five years. This time around, 68 per cent of persons affected were male, mainly in the 25-44 age group. Eighty-six per cent of those who died were men.
Although the outbreak has affected all parishes, the cases were mainly in the northeast and western regions.
"What we are seeing now is quite an unusual characteristic. Why it is affecting men now, we are not sure. We are now conducting a series of tests to determine that," said Fuller.
What the ministry also found puzzling was the reason for the spike in ackee poisoning. Fuller posited that unusually cold weather last December, and more persons not allowing the fruit to open on its own, as two possible causes. She added, however, that until the tests were completed, they could not come to any conclusions.
Lowers blood sugar
She explained that if the poisonous portion of the fruit, hypoglycin A and hypoglycin B, was ingested, it could lower blood sugar to lethal levels.
She advised that if persons experience symptoms of excessive vomiting, abdominal cramps, drowsiness, diarrhoea, weakness and dizziness after an ackee meal, they should immediately drink sweet fluids to elevate the blood sugar and seek medical attention.
During a press briefing at his ministry yesterday, Health Minister Rudyard Spencer said there was no need for panic or to advise people to stop eating the national fruit. He said the good news was that the poisoning cases were trending down significantly, with only 13 cases reported in the second week of February.
He said what was needed was a greater public education campaign on how to prepare the fruit.