Workgroup Report: Public Health Strategies for Reducing Aflatoxin Exposure in Developing Countries

TLDR

Outbreaks of acute aflatoxicosis in Kenya in 2004–2005 resulted in over 150 deaths. The workgroup aimed to identify public health strategies that could be integrated with agricultural approaches to reduce morbidity and mortality from aflatoxin‑contaminated food in developing countries. The CDC and WHO convened an international expert workgroup in Geneva in July 2005, which identified knowledge gaps and four priority issues for immediate action. The report summarizes the workgroup’s discussions and findings on aflatoxin in developing countries.

Abstract

Consecutive outbreaks of acute aflatoxicosis in Kenya in 2004 and 2005 caused > 150 deaths. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization convened a workgroup of international experts and health officials in Geneva, Switzerland, in July 2005. After discussions concerning what is known about aflatoxins, the workgroup identified gaps in current knowledge about acute and chronic human health effects of aflatoxins, surveillance and food monitoring, analytic methods, and the efficacy of intervention strategies. The workgroup also identified public health strategies that could be integrated with current agricultural approaches to resolve gaps in current knowledge and ultimately reduce morbidity and mortality associated with the consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated food in the developing world. Four issues that warrant immediate attention were identified: a) quantify the human health impacts and the burden of disease due to aflatoxin exposure; b) compile an inventory, evaluate the efficacy, and disseminate results of ongoing intervention strategies; c) develop and augment the disease surveillance, food monitoring, laboratory, and public health response capacity of affected regions; and d) develop a response protocol that can be used in the event of an outbreak of acute aflatoxicosis. This report expands on the workgroup’s discussions concerning aflatoxin in developing countries and summarizes the findings.