Identify infected cucumbers

At least 10 Germans died after eating E.coli infected cucumbers from Spain. According to experts, not only foreign cucumbers are infected but cucumbers grown in Vietnam are also highly infectious.

Disease from raw vegetables and cucumbers

According to reports of German health agencies, by the end of May 28, 270 cases of hospitalization for Enterohaemorrhagic E.coli (EHEC) infection were caused, causing hyperemia and hemophilia (HUS). and 10 of them died. EHEC is a common strain of E.coli bacteria, which causes HUS syndrome which can lead to acute kidney failure, seizures, strokes and coma. A report from the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( ECDC) said that EHEC bacteria appeared this time in Germany is very worrying because of signs of resistance to many antibiotics.

The governments of England, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark have also reported the discovery of several cases of E.coli-induced syndromes after returning from northern Germany. . According to the British Health Protection Agency (HPA), the disease may spread secondary to people if not managed and controlled. The agency said that the source of infection is likely to be raw vegetables and recommends that tourists come to Germany to avoid eating raw tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers.

Cucumbers in Vietnam are also infected

According to Prof. Dr. Phung Dac Cam, Head of the Department of Intestinal Microbiology, Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology , there are not only foreign cucumbers infected but cucumbers grown in Vietnam are also quite infectious. The current source of infection is mainly from irrigation water, washing or refreshing melons. Specifically, the source of water for cucumber irrigation is still mainly used by people as waste water, deposited from nearby ponds and lakes. Of course, the water in this area will be high in E. coli, so when watering it, it will cause infection. In addition, there are people who use tap water for irrigation, but this does not guarantee no infection. Because tap water in the source will be safe, but when stored in buckets, bottles for irrigation and sprinkler - are items of E. coli infection available, thereby spreading the source of disease.

Add the parasite

According to Prof. Phùng Đắc Cam, not only is there a risk of E.coli infection but cucumbers and similar vegetables such as tomatoes, raw vegetables . are also at risk of infection with other species such as eggs. and larvae of tubular worms, Giardia worm-making worms, dog roundworm, cystic amoeba parasite . Each species produces different diseases for people to eat, which mainly causes diseases on the pepper chemical, such as diarrhea, malnutrition . Especially, if the E. coli bacterium only exists in the air for about 15 minutes, these parasites last longer, about a few days to die, especially During this time they also flourish.

Since cucumbers are often used to eat raw, to eliminate the risk of infection, it is best to wash them with diluted saline before eating, then peel. When peeling melon, clean your hands and clean knives to avoid infection. In addition, the factor of E. coli infection when eating cucumbers is also tourism, meaning that foreigners who come to Vietnam to eat are more susceptible to indigenous people because they do not have antibodies to get used to the type. parasites. While indigenous peoples have much contact, they have higher resistance, so they are less affected.

Risk of nitra and pesticide contamination

According to Dr. Pham Minh Cuong, former director of Vegetable Company, Institute of Fruits and Vegetables: At present, Vietgap program of quality of agricultural products has only been implemented about 700ha, compared to the area of ​​arable land, this figure only accounts for about 7 %, a very small number to ensure food safety. For cucumbers, there is no exception.

There are currently two high risks: nitrate cucumbers from the application of nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides. The main feature of cucumber is fast growing, if not spraying insecticide will be deep, scabrous skin, crunchy fruit. However, when spraying insecticides, it is necessary to have isolation time of about 15 days, if this process is true, melon will get old and no one will eat. Therefore, we are still in a state of "deafness not afraid of guns".