Absolute levels of hypertension, all types of obesity and diabetes mellitus are high risk factors in the army camps and semiurban extension cities; general obesity and abdominal obesity are the risk factors for detectable hypertension. Effective control of general obesity and abdominal obesity and psychosocial strategies that target both semirural and urban areas of the Kinshasa region have the potential to prevent much premature cardiovascular disease.

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HighlightsIn 6 villages we measured konzo prevalence, urinary thiocyanate and FC scores.% konzo prevalence (%K), % high urine thiocyanate (%T), % malnutrition (%M) relate.The results fitted an equation %K = 0.06%T + 0.035%M.The wetting method was used by women over a 9-month intervention to prevent konzo.The methodology has now been used with nearly 10,000 people in 13 villages.

Background. Konzo is an irreversible paralysis of the legs that occurs mainly among children and young women in remote villages in tropical Africa

Konzo is an upper motor neuron disease that causes irreversible paralysis of the legs mainly in children and young women^1,2^, due to consumption of large amounts of cyanogens from poorly processed cassava, the staple food of tropical Africa^3^. Konzo occurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),Mozambique, Tanzania, Cameroon, Central African Republic and Angola. In March 2010 the wetting method, which removes cyanogens from cassava flour^4,5,6^, was taught to and used by the mothers of Kay Kalenge village. This reduced the total cyanide content of cassava flour to the FAO/WHO limit of 10ppm^7^. Cyanogen intake of school children, monitored by urinary thiocyanate analyses, decreased from mean values of 332 to 130 &x03BC;mole/L. The percentage of urine samples that exceeded the danger level of about 350 &x03BC;mole/L decreased from 26 in March 2010 to zero by May 2011. In 2009 there were many new cases of konzo, but none in 2010-2011. Konzo was first identified in1938 in Popokabaka area^8^ and it has now been prevented for the first time in the same area. This methodology is being used in three villages in Boko area and we believe it is the way to control konzo in tropical Africa.