Blighia sapida, the Ackee tree, still a sword of Damocles over children in Africa?

Abstract

Thirty years ago, in June 1984, for the first time in Africa, the Ackee tree, Blighia sapida Koenig, was proved responsible for massive deaths of children. This paper tells the story of this discovery and reviews the further cases of child poisoning identified on the continent since then. It also highlights the ever-present risk, that might be increased by global warming.