LUANDA: The Ministry of Health in Angola is advising the population to refrain from eating raw cassava, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and peanuts to prevent food poisoning akin to konzo disease. The ministry's recommendation is part of a broader effort to safeguard public health amid concerns about the consumption of raw tubers. According to Angola Press News Agency, the Ministry of Health has issued a statement explaining that konzo disease affects the body's muscular strength by targeting the neurons of the cortico-spinal tract. The disease has already resulted in the deaths of two individuals in the country. The ministry warns that the abrupt onset of this disease is linked to the ingestion of chemical substances present in pesticides, insecticides, or cacogenic compounds like cyanide, which are found in cassava and yucca leaves. The statement further elaborates that symptoms of intoxication include abdominal pain, vomiting, intense headaches, dizziness, altered speech, and difficulties in movement and balan ce. The Ministry of Health advises that these foods should be thoroughly washed in hot water before cooking or frying to minimize the risk of poisoning. Additionally, the ministry recommends against reusing the residual water from cassava preparation for cornflower. It also emphasizes the importance of washing all vegetables consumed raw with boiled water or treating them with five drops of bleach per liter to ensure safety. The health department urges parents to be particularly vigilant in protecting children, who are more susceptible to the adverse effects of food poisoning. In a related advisory issued in mid-September, the Ministry of the Environment had warned the population against consuming mollusks and ray fish due to potential marine contamination from noctilucent algae.