Warning for listeria infection

On March 19, 2007, the British Food Authority issued an order to recall all Anchor company burgers provided in London's hospital and school system, due to This product is contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The following is information about the dangerous characteristics of this bacterium.

The discovery of bacteria in food is not the first incident, but for many years this type of bacteria has caused food poisoning in many countries around the world (such as the US, Australia, Canada, France, Belgium .). These poisonings often result in death. According to US statistics, every year in the country, the number of patients infected with Listeria bacteria is about 2,500, with nearly 500 deaths; In the UK from 2001 - 2005, there were 1,993 people infected with this bacterium. In order to limit Listeria infection, the authorities in these countries regularly issue warnings, and also use strict measures to check food sources.

The risk of this bacterium does not stop at causing food poisoning, but it also causes dangerous diseases such as miscarriage, encephalitis, sepsis . Listeria bacteria when infecting the body usually do not immediately develop but have incubation period after a period, even up to 2 months. Therefore, people often do not recognize the attack of this type of bacteria. Signs of onset are fever, irritability, back pain. If toxins are strong enough they will cause acute food poisoning for about 12 hours with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headaches . Foods that once poisoned like meat pie, fish with tomato sauce, frozen meat, milk, cheese, fresh vegetables .

Listeria bacteria are widely dispersed in soil, water, and animal manure, so it is highly contagious through processed foods. However, this bacterium still responds well to common antibiotics like Amoxillin and Gentamycin. According to statistics, about 20-30% of patients die due to undetectable or weak resistance, elderly and children. If detected and treated early, patients will recover quickly. However, with complex epidemiological characteristics, the Listeria bacterium is classified by the World Health Organization as a high-risk biological agent in the field of food safety and hygiene.

Given the rapid development of industrial foods as well as the widespread business of many unidentified foods in Vietnam today, the food contaminated with this bacterium is no exception. On the other hand, epidemiological investigations and screening of pathogens have not been adequate, there are no more stringent surveillance for this dangerous bacterium.

Listeria monocytogenes (Photo: nrc-cnrc.gc.ca)

CNYK Dam Hong Hai (Can Tho Department of Health)