Журнал продуктов питания: микробиология, безопасность и гигиена
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Investigation of Foodborne Illness Caused by Chlorpyrifos among Two Families in a Community in South Tongu District of Ghana

Emmanuel S Kasu*, Timothy Letsa, Ofori Yeboah, Ahmed Habib4, Anthony Pani, David Agbokpe, Mamudu Abdulaziz4

Objective: On 2^nd March 2018, eight people of two households in Akakpokope in South Tongu district of Volta region were admitted to the South Tongu district hospital after eating banku and okro soup, a local diet on 27^th February 2018. We investigated the food poisoning to assess the magnitude of the problem, identify the causative agent and instituted control measures.

Methods: We conducted descriptive investigations, active case search and environmental health survey. We constructed a simple case definition to guide case finding as “any person who ate banku and okro soup on 27^th February, 2018 at Akakpokofe and had developed abdominal pains and vomiting”.

Leftover food sample from the home of the affected patients was taken to Food and Drugs Authority to determine cause of the food poisoning. A blood sample from the index case was also sent to the Poison Centre in Accra.

Results: The blood sample of the index case and leftover food contain chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate pesticide used for agricultural purposes. Patients delayed three days before seeking health care contributing to high mortality of 75% among them.

Conclusion: The cause of the food poisoning was due to chlorpyrifos contaminating food eaten by the two households. However, how the food got contaminated was undetermined during the investigation.