Bacteria blamed for pandemic
PUBLISHED: 6 Oct 2024 at 05: 38
Following 12 deaths linked to Streptococcus suis in four provinces in the lower northeastern region, the Department of Disease Control ( DDC ) has issued an alert to the public to be wary of uncooked pork.
Dr Taweechai Wisanuyothin, commander of DDC Office 9, said on Saturday that 149 cases of hearing damage caused by the pathogen in four monitoring areas– Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin and Chaiyaphum– were reported between Jan 7 and Sep 3.
Nakhon Ratchaisima recorded the highest number of cases, with 89 circumstances, six deaths, Chaiyaphum reporting 31 cases and four mortality, Surin reporting 16 cases and one dying, and Buri Ram reporting 13 cases, 13 deaths, and Buri Ram reporting 13 cases and one fatality.
The majority of the reported instances involved older people aged 65 and older, said Dr Taweechai.
A peanut-shaped bacterium known as Streptococcus suis can be found in the lower respiratory tract, specifically the tonsils and oral cavity, as well as in the swine’s digestive and vaginal tracts.
According to Dr. Taweechai, people can contract the pathogen by eating or being exposed to natural bacon, pigs ‘ blood, and internal organs. It can also provide through an open wound, damage or eye cornea, he said.
Ordinarily, an infection by the bacterium results in a fever and hearing loss 14 weeks afterwards. Sufferers suffer a high fever, intense headache, drowsiness, vomiting and chest tightness.
It can lead to permanent hearing damage, and even death in some organizations of immuno-suppresed people.
The DDC advises people to simply purchase bacon from a trustworthy source and to only eat flesh, internal organs, and bloodstream that has been cooked at 60 to 70 degrees Celsius for more than ten minutes.
He further stated that individual items should be used to get up both cooked and raw pork.
Purchase meat that has a strong scent or a black color. Likewise, do not feel raw meat and heart with bare hands.
He said,” If a wound is present, it must be tightly covered and wash your hands after touching the pig every time.”
” If there are any evidence of the reported symptoms, see a doctor quickly,” said Dr Taweechai.