Listeriosis- Food Borne Disease Attack SA.
Approximately 67 people have died and about hundreds more have been infected with foodborne disease called Listeriosis. Scientists believe that the South Africa Listeriosis outbreak occurs to be the largest Listeriosis outbreaks in the world so far.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported nearly 750 cases of Listeriosis. However, an anonymous source believe that the South African government is withholding the information about this dangerous disease. Listeriosis is a serious, but treatable and preventable disease cause by the bacterium, Listeria monocytogenes that is normally found in water, soil, vegetation and animal faeces.
The world Health Organisation state that animal products such as meat and dairy products, seafood and fresh produced food like fruits and vegetables can be contaminated with the disease. It is advisable to abstain from chicken; braai pack, KFC and Chicken Licken to avoid being infected by the disease. You might as well avoid drinking or eating dairy products. Listeria infection may result in flu like illness with diarrhoea including fever, general body pains, frequently vomiting and feeling weak.
People at high risk of being affected are new-borns, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems such as HIV, cancer, liver infections, diabetes or kidney disease. The Director General of the Department of Health has formally requested food industry stakeholders to submit Listeria isolates to the NICD, along with details of Listeria-positive food or food processing environmental samples.
This will help the scientists to understand perfectly what to do in order to prevent the spreading of the disease. The Department of Health further gives advice on how you can make sure that your food is safe: Keep clean by making sure your hands are clean; wash them with clean water and soap before you touch the food.
While shopping separate raw and cooked food. Make sure you cook the food thoroughly, that way you are destroying the virus.
After eating store the leftovers immediately by putting the food at the safe temperatures, perhaps in the refrigerator. Last but not least use clean water and raw materials to prepare food. By: Leon Natashia Ngomane
