A Fatal Public Health Problem In Africa That Flies Under The Radar
Over 100,000 people in the continent die each year from foodborne illnesses. A new report looks at the reasons the toll is so high.
In September, public health officials in South Africa finally declared victory over the world's worst-ever outbreak of listeriosis, a foodborne illness that had sickened more than 1,000 people and killed more than 200 there since January 2017.
The cause? A batch of "polony," a popular processed lunch meat similar to bologna, contaminated with listeria, a bacteria found in animal feces. Government health inspectors traced the outbreak to a factory owned by the South African packaged foods producer Tiger Brands, and ordered the recall of nearly 6,000 tons of affected food.
Even with that particular crisis under control, Africa as a continent continues to suffer from the . A new this month from the World Bank's Global
