By Halshane Burke
One of five people who turned up at health facilities in Manchester over the last two weeks suffering from ackee poisoning, has died.
Their identity has not yet been released.
Senior Medical Officer at the Mandeville Regional Hospital, Dr. Everton McIntosh, says three of the reported cases were handled by the hospital after the patients presented at the same time.
He was unable to say if the three were connected to each other.
Dr. McIntosh told Radio Jamaica News that it was not unusual for the hospital to be dealing with multiple cases of ackee poisoning.
Following the reports of the poisonings, the Manchester Health Department issued a release urging the public to be cautious in the preparation and consumption of ackee.
Medical Officer of Health for Manchester Dr. Nadine Williams reminded the public that only fit and well opened ackees are to be used by householders, as ackee should be allowed to open naturally and fully on the tree before it is picked and eaten or sold.
Dr. Williams said ackee that is not properly prepared can lead to a high level of the hypoglycin toxin usually found in higher quantities in the unripe fruit and the seed and pink or red membrane inside fit fruit.
Dr. Williams warned that the seed and pink/red membrane should be removed, the ackee washed and then boiled by itself after which the water must be discarded.
Symptoms of ackee poisoning include vomiting, stomach cramps, abdominal pain, dizziness, diarrhoea and sweating.
Dr. Williams said if these symptoms are experienced after an ackee meal, it is important to seek medical attention immediately and have a sweet drink on the way to the hospital as blood sugar levels can fall to a critically low level leading to death.
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